Houthis Seize Red Sea Coast as US Stays Sidelined

The Houthis are currently pushing to secure the Kahboub Mountains in the Taiz and Lahij provinces. By capturing these heights, the group aims to isolate the Red Sea coastline from the Saudi-backed government, tightening their grip on the Bab al-Mandab Strait. This strategic maneuver heightens risks for global oil shipments, forcing a heavier reliance on the volatile Strait of Hormuz.

President Trump remains caught between pressure to assist Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and a desire to avoid entanglement in the conflict, which is widely viewed as a proxy war with Iran. Though the US conducted airstrikes in early 2025, those operations concluded with a fragile ceasefire that has now collapsed. Following a discussion with Yemen’s president, Rashid al-Alimi, Trump stopped short of committing new military support.

The human toll continues to climb, with the United Nations documenting a surge in civilian casualties and mass displacement. As fighting intensifies, the lack of a viable diplomatic track—compounded by the dissolution of a June agreement between the US and Iran—suggests the instability will persist. Global markets are already reacting, with diesel prices hitting record highs in the US amid rising fears over maritime security.