AI Image
Houthis push for control of Yemen highlands as Trump is said to have called off strikes
Reuters • • nation
Key Points:
- Houthi fighters in Yemen have advanced to seize strategic heights along the Red Sea coast, aiming to cut off areas held by Saudi-backed forces amid escalating conflict.
- A report from The New York Times claims US President Donald Trump called off planned airstrikes against the Houthis at the last minute, despite Saudi Arabia's requests for military support.
- The Houthis' gains threaten Saudi Arabia's alternative oil export routes through the Red Sea, prompting increased shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and impacting global oil prices.
- Fighting has intensified in Yemen's highlands, with nearly 700 killed and thousands injured, while over 130,000 Yemenis have been displaced internally and thousands more have fled by sea.
- Recent attacks have extended to Saudi territory, including missile strikes near Riyadh, and maritime incidents in the Strait of Hormuz have raised security concerns amid stalled diplomacy in the wider Middle East conflict.
