President Donald Trump held off strikes against Yemen’s Houthis on Sunday after ordering preparations following an appeal from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the New York Times reported. Commanders had approved targets and troops were loading bombs onto US warplanes when Trump pulled back, the newspaper said, citing people briefed on the operation. Axios separately reported that Trump decided against a strike for now, citing two US officials.

Most of Trump’s inner circle was skeptical or opposed to opening another front while the US military was already strained by the Iran war, the Times reported. Axios reported that Trump initially agreed only to intelligence and targeting support for Saudi Arabia as the Houthis advanced toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key Red Sea chokepoint. US officials told Axios that Washington would avoid military action unless the Houthis disrupted non-Saudi shipping.

The Houthis claimed missile and drone attacks on sites in Riyadh and Aramco facilities in Yanbu on Saturday. The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted a ballistic missile aimed at Riyadh and thwarted attacks on other cities. Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi also requested US support in a Sunday call with Trump about Houthi advances around Bab el-Mandeb, Reuters reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Trump made no direct pledge of military support.