Saudi defense minister holds urgent meeting with Trump after Iraq strikes

Saudi Arabia's Defense Minister met with Vice President Vance at the White House to clarify a crucial message: despite joint U.S.-Saudi military strikes on pro-Iranian militias in Iraq, Riyadh still prioritizes de-escalation with Iran, according to Axios. The strikes, launched Tuesday in response to more than thirty drone attacks on Saudi targets over the previous seventy-two hours, crossed a red line that forced Saudi Arabia to respond militarily. But the Defense Minister emphasized to Vance that the kingdom is not seeking escalation, only the ability to defend itself. Notably, Prince Khalid also told the Vice President that Prime Minister Netanyahu is pushing for escalation with Iran, while Saudi Arabia believes a de-escalatory path is more fruitful — and that Riyadh can manage its situation with Yemen's Houthis without U.S. involvement at this time.

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