Saudi defense minister holds urgent meeting with Vance after Iraq strikes

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman told Vice President Vance at the White House Wednesday that despite the joint U.S.-Saudi strike on pro-Iranian militias in Iraq, Saudi Arabia still favors de-escalation with Iran, a source familiar with the meeting told Axios.

Why it matters: The source said the objective of the meeting was to deliver a message from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) about the war with Iran and the situation in the region.

• Saudi Arabia is one of the key U.S. allies in the region. Despite tensions at several points over the last five months, the Saudis have managed to influence President Trump's Iran policy multiple times since the war began.
• Prince Khalid, the brother and close confidant of MBS, was supposed to visit Washington last week but delayed his trip because of the strikes in Iraq.

Driving the news: On Tuesday, the Saudi military and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) conducted joint strikes against pro-Iranian militias in Iraq.

• CENTCOM said the strikes were in response to more than 30 drone attacks directed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and carried out by militias against targets in Saudi Arabia over the previous 72 hours.
• Saudi Arabia's Defense Ministry later confirmed it participated in the strikes, saying they were coordinated with CENTCOM.

Inside the room: A source familiar with the meeting said the Saudi defense minister told Vance that the attacks by the pro-Iranian Iraqi militias on Saudi infrastructure and energy facilities crossed a red line and the kingdom had to respond.

• "The Crown Prince wanted to convey to Vance that the strikes in Iraq don't mean that Saudi Arabia is pro-escalation but rather that it is ready to defend itself if needed," the source said.
• The Saudi defense minister visited the White House a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Trump. An Israeli official said Netanyahu discussed the situation in Saudi Arabia "in the context of regional challenges."
• "Prince Khalid told Vance that Netanyahu is pushing for escalation with Iran while Saudi Arabia wants de-escalation because it is a more fruitful path," the source familiar with the meeting said.
• The vice president's office declined to comment.

Catch up quick: Two weeks ago, Trump gave MBS his support for a highly unusual military action against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, Axios reported.

• The Houthis retaliated by threatening to impose a naval blockade on Saudi ports and even conducting several attacks on Saudi ships in the Red Sea.
• The source added that Saudi Arabia had to deliver a strong response in Iraq in order to send a message to Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen and deter them from carrying out similar attacks against the kingdom.
• The Saudi defense minister also told Vance on Wednesday that the kingdom can manage the situation with the Houthis and doesn't need the U.S. to get involved at this point. The Saudis are also negotiating with the Houthis, the source said.