NYT: Trump called off planned attacks against the Houthis at the last minute

U.S. President Donald Trump called off strikes against the Houthis in Yemen following two weeks of uncertainty regarding whether to respond to Saudi Arabia's request for assistance, The New York Times reports.

Administration officials indicated that on Thursday, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called the U.S. president and asked him to intervene in the conflict. 

Following that conversation, Trump ordered the Pentagon to prepare for airstrikes against the Houthis but reversed the decision at the last minute.

 One of the officials indicated that most of the president's close aides were deeply skeptical or categorically opposed to starting another conflict in the Middle East.

 According to two people familiar with the matter, the president called off the operation just as commanders had approved target lists and troops were loading bombs onto U.S. aircraft.