Houthis Advance in Yemen as Trump Abruptly Cancels US Airstrikes Following Saudi Pleas

Houthi fighters are moving to secure strategic heights in Yemen that threaten to isolate the Red Sea coast from territories held by Saudi-backed forces. The tactical push follows a dramatic last-minute decision by US President Donald Trump to call off planned American airstrikes against the group, which were reportedly aborted as bombs were being loaded onto aircraft.

According to a report by the New York Times, the abrupt reversal occurred after a direct appeal from Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Saudi leadership had been repeatedly pressing Washington for military assistance to halt the rapid Houthi advance, which has gained control over large stretches of Yemen's Red Sea coast and pushed toward areas adjacent to the vital Bab al-Mandab strait.

The Bab al-Mandab strait has served as a critical alternative route for Saudi oil exports, helping Riyadh bypass disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. The ongoing military escalation has triggered heavy fighting across Yemen, displacing at least 125,000 people since the beginning of September, according to United Nations figures. The city of Taiz has absorbed the heaviest influx, taking in up to 86,000 displaced Yemenis amidst the worsening humanitarian crisis.

President Trump has previously sent mixed signals regarding the conflict. During a visit to Ireland earlier in the month, Trump told reporters that the Houthis had contacted Washington to indicate they did not wish to fight US forces and were permitting commercial ships to pass through the Bab al-Mandab strait. He further remarked that the situation would resolve itself and that the Houthi issue was limited to a single country, seemingly pointing to Saudi Arabia's own security efforts.

Despite appeals from Riyadh, Washington has resisted re-entering the ground conflict in Yemen. The Houthis claimed responsibility for firing on the Saudi capital of Riyadh, where columns of smoke were observed near the primary airport. Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi also spoke with Trump by phone to request support for his UN-recognised government, though sources indicated the US president made no explicit military pledges during the conversation.

Saudi Arabia has launched numerous airstrikes against Houthi positions in the mountainous Kahboub region, but these operations have done little to halt the advancing fighters. Ground battles have concentrated around the fringes of the Al-Wazi’iyah district in Taiz province and Ras al-Ara along the Indian Ocean coast. Securing these mountainous corridors aims to protect the rear flank of Houthi forces near the Bab al-Mandab strait while opening potential new military fronts, according to sources cited by Reuters.

The renewed hostilities present a complex diplomatic and strategic dilemma for the Trump administration. While facing pressure to protect close regional partners in the Gulf, Washington remains cautious about expanding military involvement in Yemen or entangling itself further following its earlier military campaigns against Iran. With US midterm elections on the horizon, the current White House strategy appears focused on protecting energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz while avoiding a wider regional war.

However, analysts note that this hesitant posture carries long-term diplomatic risks, including the potential alienation of key Gulf allies like Saudi Arabia. Any perception of Washington as an unreliable security partner could strain the foundational security agreements that have historically tied US defense umbrellas to stable global energy supplies.