The Wall Street Journal said that the US Secretary of Defense and the commander of the Central Command of US forces in order to reduce US support for the Saudi-UAE alliance in the Battle of Hodeidah in Yemen, in order to push towards negotiation.
The newspaper pointed out that the UAE leaders did not find the desired response when they offered to US officials in mid-2018 plans to launch a military operation to wrest control of the city of Hodeidah and its ports (west of Yemen) from the hands of the Houthis.
The newspaper quoted sources as saying that UAE military officials had presented their plans to the team of US Central Command Commander General Joseph Fotel.
She added that Boutefl warned the Emiratis of the difficulty of military confrontation and the difficulty of control of the port of Hodeidah, and told them that the United States will not provide them with mines sweeping, aircraft and intelligence information they want to fight that battle.
The newspaper said that the role played by General Footel behind the scenes was supported by Defense Minister James Matisse, who submitted his resignation recently. The two men worked together to rein in Saudi and UAE operations in Yemen and to limit direct American support, according to officials from Western and Middle Eastern countries.
The Wall Street Journal said the US effort in June had played a key role in slowing down the UAE process and helped create a diplomatic space for the UN special envoy to persuade the warring parties on December 13, 2018, during Sweden's consultations on a ceasefire.