Houthi fighters pushed on Monday to seize strategic heights in southern Yemen that could separate the Red Sea coast from territory still held by Saudi-backed government forces. Five Yemeni military officials identified the Kahboub Mountains in Taiz and Lahij provinces as the immediate objective of the offensive.
The Iran-aligned group captured Yemen's Red Sea coast during a rapid advance this month, routing government units and extending the wider Middle East conflict into another theatre. Saudi Arabia has launched hundreds of strikes against Houthi positions in the highlands, while Riyadh has repeatedly sought direct American military support.
The New York Times said the Trump administration had prepared airstrikes for Sunday after renewed Saudi requests, but that Donald Trump canceled them as bombs were being loaded. Reuters could not verify that account; US Central Command referred questions to the White House, which offered no immediate response.
Rashid al-Alimi, head of Yemen's internationally recognized government, asked Trump by telephone for military help on Sunday, four people familiar with the contact said. Two of them said Trump made no direct commitment, leaving Washington's military position unresolved as ground fighting intensified.
The human cost has risen sharply. United Nations figures indicated that nearly 700 people had been killed, thousands injured, almost 130,000 displaced within Yemen and more than 3,000 driven to cross the Red Sea by boat as the latest fighting expanded.
Combat focused on the outskirts of the remote mountain district of Al-Wazi'iyah in Taiz and at Ras al-Ara on the Indian Ocean coast. Control of the surrounding heights could determine whether the Houthis consolidate their advance or government forces retain positions needed for a counteroffensive.
The advance also threatens routes near Bab el-Mandeb as Saudi Arabia relies on Red Sea exports to bypass disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. Britain agreed to temporary defensive air-to-air refueling for Saudi Arabia, while France said it was ready to help secure energy infrastructure around Yanbu and the East-West pipeline corridor.
