Houthis battle for strategic heights in Yemen as thousands more flee homes | Conflict News
Fighting Intensifies in Yemen Amid Escalating Regional Tensions
Clashes between Houthi rebels and Saudi-backed government forces continue in Yemen as both sides vie for control of strategic mountainous regions near the Red Sea. The leader of the Iran-aligned Houthi group has accused the United States of contemplating direct military intervention in the ongoing conflict.
On Monday, hostilities flared in the Kahboub Mountains, an area critical to the conflict as it overlooks the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and Mayyun Island. Control of these heights would enable the Houthis to cut off access to the southern region still held by the Yemeni government. Recent reports from Al Jazeera indicate that the Houthis, having secured Yemen’s Red Sea coast, including the port of Mocha earlier this month, are working to make further advances in the region.
“Since the Houthis entered Mocha and took control of the port and Mayyun Island, they have sought to advance into the mountains to secure their rear,” said Maha Ali, an Al Jazeera correspondent based in Taiz. “Kahboub is now the main battleground and may remain so given its strategic significance.”
At least 674 people have been killed, and over 158,000 have been displaced due to recent escalations, according to local officials. The World Health Organization reported that between August 6 and September 18, nearly 3,000 were injured, with a notable spike in casualties during the conflict.
In related developments, reports from The New York Times indicated that U.S. President Donald Trump had prepared to launch airstrikes against the Houthis on Sunday in response to calls from Saudi Arabia. However, he reportedly canceled the operations at the last moment, even as U.S. forces were readying aircraft for the mission.
Houthi leader Abdel-Malik al-Houthi claimed during a speech that the U.S. is weighing a military escalation alongside Saudi Arabia. He criticized U.S. involvement, asserting that as long as Washington seeks “dominance over the Yemeni people,” conflict would persist.
Strategically, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has pressed for U.S. support in the conflict, while Washington has reportedly declined these requests. Analysts suggest that the Trump administration’s hesitance to escalate military commitments in Yemen reflects broader concerns over U.S. troop deployment in the region.
“The President is in a difficult position, balancing the desire to maintain good relations with Saudi Arabia against the risks of deepening U.S. military entanglements,” said Jason Campbell, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute. He highlighted that U.S. military resources are already strained, with significant expenditure on munitions and a need for replenishment of stockpiles.
Amid the intensified fighting, Yemeni government forces claimed to have targeted Houthi fighters and disrupted supply lines near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Additionally, they reported shooting down a Houthi drone in southwestern Taiz.
The Houthis allege that Saudi Arabia conducted at least 157 airstrikes across various provinces on Monday, resulting in civilian casualties, including the deaths of six individuals in Mocha, as reported by Houthi-affiliated media. Saudi officials have not yet commented on these allegations.
The ongoing conflict has exacerbated Yemen’s humanitarian crisis, with nearly 18 million people facing acute food insecurity. Carl Skau, acting executive director of the World Food Programme, noted the influx of displaced families to already strained camps, emphasizing the impact of disrupted supply routes on food security in Yemen.
A spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that continued fighting threatens to further devastate the country and its population. U.N. special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, remains in contact with all parties to address the crisis.
