Houthi fighters intensified their efforts on Monday to capture key highland positions in Yemen, aiming to sever the Red Sea coast from territories still held by Saudi-backed forces. This move follows reports that President Donald Trump abruptly canceled planned US airstrikes against the group.
The Iran-backed Houthis have rapidly expanded their control this month, broadening the Middle East conflict and posing new risks to global energy routes. Despite persistent appeals from Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Washington has declined to intervene militarily in Yemen.
In a significant development, it was reported that the Trump administration had readied airstrikes against the Houthis on Sunday after renewed Saudi requests. However, the strikes were called off at the last moment, even as munitions were being loaded onto aircraft. The US Central Command deferred inquiries to the White House, which did not immediately comment.
Rashid al-Alimi, president of Yemen’s Saudi-backed government based in Riyadh, contacted Trump by phone on Sunday seeking US military assistance. Sources indicated that Trump did not offer a direct commitment during the conversation.
Meanwhile, Riyadh experienced explosions and visible smoke near its airport on Saturday, marking the first such incident since the escalation began. The Houthis claimed responsibility for missile attacks on the Saudi capital, though Saudi officials have yet to respond.
The Houthis, who have controlled Yemen’s capital since 2014, recently seized the Red Sea coastline, routing Saudi-backed government forces. In response, Saudi Arabia has launched hundreds of airstrikes targeting Houthi positions in the highlands.
The United Nations reports that nearly 700 people have died and thousands more have been wounded amid the renewed fighting. Approximately 130,000 Yemenis have been displaced internally, with over 3,000 fleeing by boat across the Red Sea to Africa.
Five Yemeni military sources revealed that the Houthis are now attempting to capture the strategically important Kahboub Mountains in Taiz and Lahij provinces. These mountains form a critical barrier between the Red Sea coast and government-controlled southern regions.
Clashes have focused around the remote Al-Wazi’iyah district in Taiz and Ras al-Ara along the Indian Ocean coast, near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the government stronghold of Aden. Political analyst Mohammed Al-Qadhi noted that government forces remain mostly defensive after losing Bab el-Mandeb, while the Houthis push forward despite intense airstrikes. Control of these mountains could determine whether the Houthis consolidate their gains or if government forces can mount a counterattack.
The escalation presents a dilemma for Trump, who faces pressure to support Saudi allies but is wary of deepening involvement in the unpopular conflict he initially intensified with “Operation Epic Fury” against Iran in February. The US conducted bombing campaigns against the Houthis for two months in early 2025 before halting strikes following a ceasefire, and has since avoided direct engagement.
The Houthis’ advance along the Red Sea threatens to block Saudi Arabia’s alternative oil export route, which bypasses the Strait of Hormuz. In response, Saudi Arabia has increased shipments through Hormuz, where tankers shuttle oil despite heightened risks, charging record fees up to 25% of cargo value. Oil is then transferred to other vessels in the Indian Ocean for delivery to Asian and other markets.
Traders report Saudi Arabia has sold 60 million barrels of oil for loading off Oman this and next month. Satellite data indicates Saudi exports through Hormuz have surged to 2.9 million barrels per day recently, up from 700,000 in August. This shift has helped cap global crude prices, which have fallen closer to $100 per barrel after nearing $110 last week. However, refined fuel prices remain high, with US diesel retail prices reaching new records on Monday.
In the latest incident in the Hormuz Strait, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency reported a vessel was struck by a projectile, causing minor crew injuries. An earlier attack on a gas tanker was also noted.
Diplomatic efforts have largely stalled since a June interim agreement between the US and Iran collapsed within weeks. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian is scheduled to attend the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, underscoring ongoing regional tensions.
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