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Up to 169 killed in Yemen as Houthis fight for strategic heights on Red Sea coast

Thousands flee as Iran-aligned group advances after Trump reportedly calls off US airstrikes at the last minute

By LineZotpaper
Published
Updated
Read Time2 min
Sources4 outlets
As many as 169 people have been killed in three days of intense fighting in Yemen as Houthi fighters battle Saudi-backed government forces for control of strategic heights along the Red Sea coast, displacing thousands of civilians. The clashes come after US President Donald Trump reportedly called off planned American airstrikes on the Houthis at the last minute on Sunday, as bombs were being loaded onto aircraft, according to reports.

Houthi military officials said at least 118 people had been killed in clashes as well as Saudi air and artillery strikes on Taiz, al-Jawf, Marib and Saada provinces since Sunday, according to Agence France-Presse. Yemeni government sources reported at least 36 fatalities on their side of the conflict.

The fighting has forced thousands more residents to flee their homes in recent weeks, adding to a growing humanitarian crisis. The Houthis are seeking to seize strategic terrain—including the Kahboub Mountains—that would cut off the Red Sea coast from areas held by Saudi-backed forces, consolidating their control near one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.

The Trump administration's abrupt reversal on military action, first reported by the New York Times, came after Saudi Arabia pleaded for US assistance against the Iran-aligned group. The president reportedly flip-flopped wildly in recent days, with the decision called off as bombs were being loaded.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The fighting directly threatens one of the world's busiest maritime chokepoints—the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb strait—critical for global oil and trade shipments.
  • Tens of thousands of Yemeni civilians are being displaced, worsening a humanitarian crisis already among the world's worst.
  • Trump's last-minute reversal on airstrikes raises questions about US policy coherence and the reliability of American security commitments to Gulf allies.

Background

Yemen has been mired in civil war since 2014, when Houthi rebels, aligned with Iran, seized the capital Sanaa. A Saudi-led coalition backed by the US and UK intervened in 2015 to restore the internationally recognized government. The conflict has killed hundreds of thousands and created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. In recent weeks, fighting has intensified along the Red Sea coast, with the Houthis making territorial gains that threaten to sever government-held areas from the sea.

Key Perspectives

[Houthi movement]: The Iran-aligned group aims to consolidate control over western Yemen and the Red Sea coastline, using the mountainous terrain to pressure Saudi-led forces and disrupt shipping if needed. [Saudi Arabia and Yemeni government]: Riyadh views Houthi advances as a direct threat to its security and the stability of global energy routes. The Saudi-led coalition has called for US air support, but Trump's last-minute decision to call off strikes leaves them in a difficult position. [Critics and analysts]: The Trump administration's erratic decision-making on Yemen undermines US credibility, and the lack of a clear strategy risks allowing the Houthis to consolidate gains without meaningful deterrent. Humanitarian groups warn that continued displacement and blockade-like conditions are deepening a catastrophic famine risk.

What to Watch

  • Whether the Houthis succeed in fully seizing the Kahboub Mountains and cutting government-held areas off from the Red Sea.
  • If Saudi Arabia launches unilateral airstrikes or seeks support from other allies after the US reversal.
  • Any shift in US policy—either a new strike authorization or a withdrawal of support for the Saudi-led coalition.

Sources

Zotpaper

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