A Saudi source has denied reports that Saudi Arabia intervened to halt a planned US military operation in the Strait of Hormuz, insisting that Washington continues to have regular access to Saudi airspace and military bases.
According to Agence France-Presse, the source rejected as “incorrect” an NBC News report claiming that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had pressured US President Donald Trump to suspend the operation.
Trump announced on Tuesday that he was pausing Operation “Freedom”, one day after unveiling the plan, which aimed to escort commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz following restrictions imposed by Iran after the US-Israeli war launched in late February.
NBC reported that Riyadh had refused to allow US forces to use Saudi bases and airspace for the operation, prompting Trump’s reversal.
However, the Saudi source told AFP that the report was inaccurate, adding that the United States can still use Saudi bases and airspace “regularly”.
READ: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait lift restrictions on US military access to bases, airspace: Report
