Yemen Monitor / Washington / Exclusive:
The U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) announced on Monday that a call between the American and Saudi defense ministers discussed ongoing operations against the Houthis in the Red Sea.
A statement from the Pentagon, seen by Yemen Monitor, said that a phone conversation took place “between U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman to discuss regional security, including progress in ongoing military operations aimed at undermining the Houthis and preserving freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.”
The discussion also touched on expanding the U.S.-Saudi partnership in defense-related matters.
Earlier on Monday, Secretary Hegseth vowed to intensify U.S. strikes against the Houthis in the coming days, as the US air campaign against the Yemeni armed group entered its fourth week.
“We have many options and pressure tools to impose on the Houthis and Iran,” Hegseth said.
He added, “We have various means to apply pressure on the Houthis and their Iranian sponsors.”
The Trump administration launched a broad military campaign against the Houthis on March 15, calling it a preemptive response to the group’s continued attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The campaign has involved intensive airstrikes targeting key Houthi sites, including weapons depots, command centers, and senior military leaders.
However, the campaign has faced significant challenges, particularly in terms of limited success in destroying the Houthis’ underground military arsenal, which remains difficult to locate and neutralize.
