Trump says Houthis asked US not to intervene as they seize Red Sea coast

US President Donald Trump said Saturday that Yemen's Houthi movement contacted Washington directly and asked the United States to stay out of its fight against Yemen's internationally recognized government, even as the group completed a rapid takeover of the country's entire Red Sea coastline.

"The Houthis called us and they don't want to fight with us," Trump told reporters during a visit to Dublin, Ireland, alongside Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin. "They don't want us to go after them." He added that the Houthis were "letting the ships pass" and predicted the situation in the region would work out "fine and dandy."

Neither the Houthis nor the White House provided further details on the substance or timing of the alleged outreach, and there was no immediate Houthi confirmation of Trump's account.

Trump also said he had spoken with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whom he called a "friend," about the deteriorating situation.

Two sources familiar with the matter told CBS News that the crown prince has personally pressed Trump in multiple recent conversations to take direct military action against the Houthis. According to those sources, Trump has so far declined to commit US forces, offering intelligence and targeting support instead.

Trump's remarks came a day after the Houthis seized full control of Yemen's Red Sea coast, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters, capping a swift offensive against forces loyal to Yemen's internationally recognized government.

Houthi fighters reached the strategic port town of Mocha at dawn Thursday, then pushed offshore to take nearby islands, before government sources reported Friday that Houthi forces had also reached Dhubab, on the coast of the Bab al-Mandeb strait, and landed fighters on Mayyun Island (also known as Perim) at the strait's midpoint after government troops withdrew.

Read more: Houthis capture strategic Red Sea city Al-Mokha