Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly asked President Donald Trump for military help against Yemen's Houthi rebels on Thursday, but Trump declined to authorize direct U.S. strikes and instead offered intelligence support, Reuters reported Friday, citing sources. Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, traveled to Saudi Arabia that day for discussions, while Washington remained in continuous dialogue with Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government. On Friday, Houthi forces reached Perim island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategic Red Sea oil corridor opposite the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia now depends on the Red Sea route after the Iran conflict effectively closed Hormuz, which had carried roughly a fifth of global oil supply. The U.S. and Israel struck Iran on Feb. 28, and Iran responded with attacks on Israel and Gulf states hosting U.S. bases; the conflict is now in its seventh month. Houthi control of Bab el-Mandeb could give Iran leverage over a second major oil route, potentially reducing global supply options and pushing prices higher. Tensions between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia flared again in early July after a truce lasting roughly four years broke down. The Houthis said they acted against what they believed were Saudi jets attempting to prevent an Iranian passenger flight from landing in Sanaa. Saudi officials later told U.S. counterparts they were prepared to manage the threat themselves and warned against allowing the situation to escalate. The White House did not immediately respond to Benzinga's request for comment.