Trump's Strike Reversal Leaves Saudi Arabia Exposed to Iran-Aligned Houthis

President Trump cancelled planned US strikes against Yemen's Houthi rebels over the weekend, leaving Saudi Arabia in a more precarious position despite the crown prince's appeals. The decision came as bombs were already being loaded onto aircraft. The strikes were called off because the Houthis, allied with Iran, had promised not to attack US vessels in Middle Eastern waters. An attack would have broken that arrangement and drawn the US into a new front. Saudi Arabia, the world's second-largest oil producer, faces a severe threat to its oil exports as Houthi forces have captured Red Sea ports and threaten the Bab al-Mandeb strait. The US remains passive due to a missile shortage and upcoming midterm elections, where the Middle East war is unpopular. Saudi Arabia has formed a defense alliance with Turkey and Pakistan, signaling reduced trust in the US. A diplomatic window may exist during the UN General Assembly week, with Iran sending peace conditions via Qatar.