Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed regional developments with U.S. Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper in Jeddah ‌on Monday, Saudi state ​media said, amid escalating hostilities with Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis.

The meeting ⁠comes days after three ​sources familiar with the matter told Reuters ⁠the crown prince had sought military assistance from President Donald Trump to ‌help fight the Houthis.

Trump ​did not agree ‌to U.S. strikes on the group, ‌but Washington told Riyadh it would provide intelligence-sharing and targeting assistance, the sources ⁠added.

The Houthis ‌have stepped ⁠up attacks on Saudi cities and energy ⁠infrastructure ⁠while advancing along Yemen’s Red Sea coast towards ‌the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key shipping route.

The escalation has opened ‌a ​second theater ‌in the wider regional conflict and raised concerns over Saudi ​oil exports and global shipping.