U.S. Media: U.S. Military Will Not Launch Offensive Strikes Against Houthi Forces

On September 20, Xinhua News Agency reported from Washington (reporters Xu Jianmei and Huang Qiang) that CNN quoted a U.S. official as saying that the U.S. military will not launch "offensive strikes" against the Houthi forces in Yemen.

According to reports, an anonymous U.S. official disclosed that, so far, the support provided by the U.S. military has been limited to providing intelligence and target data for Saudi Arabia's operations against the Houthi forces, and there has been an increase in information sharing with Saudi Arabia on this matter. The U.S. side believes it has provided Saudi Arabia with "all the support it needs" to counter the Houthi forces.

Alex Plitsas, a former Pentagon official and director of the Counterterrorism Program at the Atlantic Council, said on a CNN interview program on the 19th that he learned that President Trump held a meeting at Camp David that day to discuss military strike options against Yemen. The White House and the Pentagon have not confirmed this information.

According to multiple U.S. media reports, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed had requested the U.S. to strike the Houthi forces earlier this month, but was rejected by Trump.

Analysts believe that the recent offensive by the Houthi forces may "open new fronts," prolong the U.S.-Iran conflict, and increase the difficulty for the U.S. to use diplomatic and military means to end the U.S.-Iran conflict.