Houthis seek strategic heights as Yemen fighting intensifies

Sanaa, Yemen. Houthi fighters were pushing on Monday to capture strategic mountain positions in Yemen that could cut off the Red Sea coast from areas still controlled by Saudi-backed forces. The advance came after a report that US President Donald Trump cancelled planned strikes against the group at the last minute.

Advance towards southern positions

The Iran-backed Houthis have made rapid advances this month, extending the wider Middle East conflict into Yemen and increasing concerns over global energy supplies.

Five Yemeni military sources told Reuters that the group was seeking to seize the Kahboub Mountains, strategic heights in the provinces of Taiz and Lahij. The mountains separate the Red Sea coast from the government-held south.

The Houthis, who have controlled Yemen’s capital since 2014, seized the country’s Red Sea coast this month in an advance that routed forces of the internationally recognised Yemeni government. The government is backed by Saudi Arabia and based in southern Yemen.

Saudi strikes and reported attack on Riyadh

Saudi Arabia has carried out hundreds of strikes in recent days on Houthi positions in the highlands, according to the group. However, the Houthis’ advance has continued as Saudi-backed government forces have retreated.

Washington has rejected repeated requests from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to join the fighting in Yemen. The Houthis said on Saturday that they had fired on Riyadh, where loud explosions were followed by columns of smoke near the airport.

Saudi Arabia has not commented on what appeared to be the first strikes on the capital since the escalation began.

Report of cancelled US strikes

The New York Times reported that the Trump administration had prepared on Sunday to launch airstrikes against the Houthis following renewed requests from the Saudi crown prince.

The newspaper said Trump cancelled the strikes at the last minute while troops were loading bombs onto aircraft. Reuters could not immediately verify the report, and US Central Command did not respond to an email seeking comment.

Humanitarian impact

Nearly 700 people have been killed and thousands injured in the renewed fighting, according to the United Nations. More than 120,000 Yemenis have fled their homes within the country, while thousands more have crossed the Red Sea by boat to Africa.