[US Media: Key Moment Refusal to Cooperate with US Military Causes Rift Between US and Saudi Arabia] Odaily Planet Daily reports, according to The Wall Street Journal, this spring, as part of an ambitious operation aimed at securing the Strait of Hormuz, over 100 US military aircraft planned to take off from bases and warships across the Middle East. However, the mission encountered an unexpected obstacle: Saudi Arabia—whose bases and airspace were critical to the operation—refused to cooperate. According to US officials familiar with the matter, this resistance forced the US to halt the "Operation Freedom" plan, thereby ending a military initiative launched by then-President Trump to ensure the safe passage of ships. US and Arab officials familiar with the discussions stated that the White House angrily threatened to suspend the delivery of interceptors used to counter Iranian missiles and drones if Saudi Arabia did not change its stance. Saudi Arabia eventually relented, but US officials at the time noted that the damage caused was not easily repairable. Some US officials have revealed that the US is currently considering reducing its military presence within Saudi Arabia.