KAN Channel: Washington Rejects Saudi Request to Lead War on Yemen
Yemeni source tells Hebrew channel: Riyadh requested direct US intervention, but Washington limited its response to promising support for Saudi operations.
NYN | Reports and Analyses
The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (KAN 11) revealed that the US administration turned down a request from Saudi Arabia for Washington to assume direct command of the military campaign against Yemen, at a time of growing concern within Riyadh over the repercussions of any renewed military escalation.
In its Saturday evening news bulletin, the channel cited a Yemeni source allegedly connected to Saudi Arabia, stating that the request was raised during a high-level meeting in mid-August between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and General Brad Cooper, Commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM).
Saudi Request for Washington to Take the Lead
According to the source quoted by KAN, the Saudi side expressed a desire for US forces to take direct command of military operations, including front-line management and taking operational initiative against Yemen.
However, according to the same account, the US side declined to take direct command, while expressing Washington’s readiness to provide various forms of support and assistance for any military move Riyadh decides to execute on its own inside Yemen.
Saudi Concerns Over Consequences of Escalation
The Hebrew channel noted that Riyadh’s proposal reflects its assessment of Saudi anxiety regarding potential Yemeni retaliatory strikes in the event of a new conflict, given past military experiences between the two sides and their lingering impact on Saudi Arabia.
This comes amid the sensitivity of the Yemeni file for Riyadh, which faces a complex security equation balancing the risks of military escalation on one hand and the consequences of a prolonged conflict on the other.
Washington Avoids Direct Involvement
Conversely, KAN linked the US refusal to Washington’s apprehensions about getting directly entangled in another military front in the region, along with the potential risk of expanding the scope of confrontation and elevating threats to US forces and interests.
According to the channel, the US stance reflects a preference for supporting any potential Saudi move without taking direct tactical command, allowing Washington to maintain a supporting role while avoiding full involvement in a new war inside Yemen.
If accurate, the revelation of this Saudi request reopens questions regarding Riyadh’s calculations regarding any potential escalation, and its willingness to bear the consequences of a renewed confrontation without direct US operational leadership.
