The president of Yemen called Trump and asked for American support against the Houthis

The president of Yemen called Trump and asked for American support against the Houthis

Reuters reported, citing four knowledgeable sources, that US President Donald Trump had a telephone conversation with Rashed Alimi, head of the Presidential Leadership Council in Yemen, on Sunday.

The focus of this speech was the advance of the Iran-backed Houthis around the Bablamandab Strait, one of the world's most important shipping lanes.

According to Reuters sources, in this conversation Mr. Alimi asked for the United States' support for the Saudi-backed government in fighting the Houthis.

Two sources, one Yemeni and the other Western, said Mr. Trump did not directly commit to military support at the call.

The White House and Yemen's information minister have yet to respond to a Reuters request for comment.