*Sep 17 Thu:* MBS calls Trump — Houthis fired ballistic missile at Riyadh (intercepted), seized Mocha + Perim Island area, Red Sea exports collapsed. MBS presses for direct US strikes
- *Sep 16 Wed:* Trump had told advisors he *did NOT favor* strikes $PTB $ZETA $PHA
- *After Thu call:* Trump *reversed → ordered Pentagon to prepare airstrikes* against Yemen Houthi hideouts
- *Sep 20-21 Sun:* At final hour — *target lists approved, bombs being loaded onto warplanes, wave about to begin* — Trump *reversed again, aborted operation*
*Quotes:*
- NYTimes: "approved target lists, troops were loading bombs onto US warplanes selected for the missions and the wave of attacks was just about to begin"
- Senior admin official: "US has a defence agreement with Saudi Arabia, and we will always defend our allies" — White House declined to comment on deliberations
- Context: Most of Trump's inner circle skeptical — US focused on Iran/Strait of Hormuz, exhausted from $1B/month campaign vs Houthis 18 months ago. Houthis have rebuilt + using AI for missiles, agreed to spare US ships for now, hitting Saudi only.
*Markets:* No immediate oil spike yet, but NBC noted Brent pushed >$100 earlier this month on Red Sea closure fears.
*BREAKING 🚨 Trump aborts Yemen Houthi strike at last minute — bombs loaded, targets approved 🚀 NYT: After MBS urgent call Sep 17 urging action after missile on Riyadh, Trump ordered prep, then halted Sun — US avoids 2nd front amid Iran war — White House: will defend allies ⚡*#ECBStartsBlockchainEuroSettlement #SouthAfricaProposesCryptoExchangeControls #SolanaCutsTargetSlotTimeTo250ms #CanaryFilesSecondAmendmentForStakedSEIETF
- *Sep 16 Wed:* Trump had told advisors he *did NOT favor* strikes $PTB $ZETA $PHA
- *After Thu call:* Trump *reversed → ordered Pentagon to prepare airstrikes* against Yemen Houthi hideouts
- *Sep 20-21 Sun:* At final hour — *target lists approved, bombs being loaded onto warplanes, wave about to begin* — Trump *reversed again, aborted operation*
*Quotes:*
- NYTimes: "approved target lists, troops were loading bombs onto US warplanes selected for the missions and the wave of attacks was just about to begin"
- Senior admin official: "US has a defence agreement with Saudi Arabia, and we will always defend our allies" — White House declined to comment on deliberations
- Context: Most of Trump's inner circle skeptical — US focused on Iran/Strait of Hormuz, exhausted from $1B/month campaign vs Houthis 18 months ago. Houthis have rebuilt + using AI for missiles, agreed to spare US ships for now, hitting Saudi only.
*Markets:* No immediate oil spike yet, but NBC noted Brent pushed >$100 earlier this month on Red Sea closure fears.
*BREAKING 🚨 Trump aborts Yemen Houthi strike at last minute — bombs loaded, targets approved 🚀 NYT: After MBS urgent call Sep 17 urging action after missile on Riyadh, Trump ordered prep, then halted Sun — US avoids 2nd front amid Iran war — White House: will defend allies ⚡*#ECBStartsBlockchainEuroSettlement #SouthAfricaProposesCryptoExchangeControls #SolanaCutsTargetSlotTimeTo250ms #CanaryFilesSecondAmendmentForStakedSEIETF
