Houthis in Yemen are striving to seize strategic heights to cut off access to the Red Sea coast from areas controlled by Saudi-backed forces. These developments have come in the wake of reports about the cancellation of President Donald Trump's airstrikes against this group at the last moment.
Rapid Advances of Houthis and New Threats
The rapid advance of the Iran-backed Houthi group has fueled regional tensions and poses a new threat to global energy supplies. This group, which has controlled the Yemeni capital since 2014, has succeeded in capturing the Red Sea coast this month, putting pressure on the internationally recognized Yemeni government forces.
Impact of Airstrikes and Humanitarian Situation
According to reports, Saudi Arabia has conducted hundreds of airstrikes against Houthi positions in the heights in recent days. However, these strikes have not been able to prevent the advance of Houthi forces. According to the United Nations, nearly 700 people have been killed and thousands injured in these clashes, with over 120,000 Yemenis displaced from their homes.
Yemeni military sources have reported that Houthis are now seeking to seize the heights of the Kahbob mountains in the provinces of Taiz and Lahij. These heights separate access to the Red Sea coast from areas controlled by the government.
The escalation of the war between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis has created a new dilemma for Trump. He is under pressure to defend his close Saudi allies, while also being concerned about the escalation of a war that began against Iran last February.
The new Houthi control over the Bab al-Mandab Strait could cut off the main alternative route that Saudi Arabia uses for its oil exports. Saudi Arabia has responded to this situation by increasing attacks through the Strait of Hormuz and has raised its exports to 2.9 million barrels per day.
However, global oil prices are nearing $100 per barrel, and consumers continue to face high prices for refined fuels. Retail diesel prices in the United States have reached a record high of over $6.51 per gallon.
