US CENTCOM Chief Meets Saudi Leader as Houthi Gains Threaten Red Sea

US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah on Monday to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced. The meeting occurred as Yemen's Houthi rebels seized strategic positions near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a critical maritime choke point at the southern entrance of the Red Sea. The Houthi advance last week included the capture of the port of Mokha and key coastal positions, threatening a vital route for global oil shipments. This escalation has effectively reignited Yemen's civil war, which had been largely quiet since a 2022 ceasefire. Saudi-aligned forces have attacked Houthi territory, while Houthi forces have repeatedly fired at sites in Saudi Arabia they describe as military and energy installations. The Trump administration has declined direct military involvement in the Yemen conflict, instead offering intelligence and targeting assistance to Saudi Arabia. President Donald Trump said Saturday that Houthi officials had communicated they do not intend to attack international shipping, focusing their actions on Saudi Arabia.