Houthis advance in Yemen as fighting escalates in Red Sea region

Summarised from 10 outlets · 18 reports · Updated 24 Sept, 22:20 · Archive

Iran-backed Houthi fighters are advancing in Yemen, seizing strategic terrain and displacing tens of thousands of people.

Iran-backed Houthi fighters are advancing in Yemen, seizing strategic heights along the Red Sea coast and cutting off areas held by Saudi-backed forces. The fighting has intensified in recent days, with reports of up to 169 people killed and more than 100,000 displaced. Houthi militants have launched drone and ballistic missile attacks on Saudi Arabia, including targeting Riyadh for the first time since the escalation began. Donald Trump reportedly called off US airstrikes against the Houthis at the last minute on Sunday. The UK has approved military support for Saudi Arabia, with an RAF refuelling aircraft deployed to assist the Saudi Air Force.

How it is being reported

• Saudi reports fresh Houthi attacks as France pledges to defend key oil portSaudi Arabia intercepted Houthi ballistic missiles on Thursday after warning several regions, including Mecca, of possible attacks. France said it would send military assets to help protect the Saudi oil terminal at Yanbu. The strikes came amid renewed fighting in Yemen that has killed dozens, according to sources cited by AFP.France 24 · 25 Sept, 00:34
• Saudi foreign minister warns Houthi threat goes global as Trump holds fireSaudi Arabia intercepted six Houthi ballistic missiles as Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud urged global action to protect Red Sea shipping routes.Fox News · 24 Sept, 21:51
• Houthi advances in Yemen drive displacement, deepen humanitarian crisisWith more than 132,000 people already displaced by the latest fighting and Houthi territorial gains, Yemen is on the brink of slipping back into a full-fledged humanitarian emergency. DW spoke with people on the ground.DW News · 24 Sept, 17:26
• The conflict sending global oil prices soaring: How Iran-backed Houthis have seized islands in Red Sea shipping route in escalating war with Saudi ArabiaOn Monday, Houthi fighters pushed to seize strategic heights in Yemen to cut off the Red Sea coast from remaining areas held by Saudi-backed forces.Daily Mail · 23 Sept, 10:38
• How the civil war in Yemen could affect global shipping routes – explainerHouthi militants have made a lightning advance along the Red Sea coast, capturing strategically important territory in Yemen. Hundreds of civilians have been killed and more than 100,000 people have been forced to flee their homes. The Guardian's Oliver Holmes explains why this conflict has world governments on edge Continue reading...Guardian Business · 22 Sept, 20:19
• Up to 169 killed in Yemen as Houthis battle for strategic Red Sea heightsThousands flee fighting as Iran-aligned group seeks to consolidate territorial gains against Saudi-backed government forces Middle East live – latest updates As many as 169 people have been reportedly killed in Yemen in the last three days as Iran-aligned Houthis battle Saudi-backed government forces for control of strategic heights on the Red Sea coast, while thousands flee the violence. 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, Agence France-Presse…The Guardian · 22 Sept, 14:57
• Houthis try to push deeper into western Yemen, upending life, witnesses tell NPRAs the U.S. conflict with Iran drags, the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen have opened a new front, taking new territory and displacing more than 100,000 people.NPR · 22 Sept, 11:59
• Middle East crisis live: Iran ready to reopen strait of Hormuz within seven days if US lifts blockade, official saysTraffic through the key waterway for energy supplies has dwindled to a trickle We are seeing reports that the Houthis have said that strikes carried out by Saudi Arabia in the northwest of the country killed at least two civilians. “A mother and child were killed, while her husband and two of her other children were wounded in strikes carried out by the Saudi enemy in the Al-Batin area of Al-Hazm, in Al-Jawf province,” the Iranian-backed militia’s news agency said, citing the Houthi health ministry. Continue reading...The Guardian · 22 Sept, 11:41
• 'Danger of Britain being sucked into Middle East war with support for Saudis'OPINION: Bitter violence has raged on and off between Saudi Arabia and the Yemen Houthis for years but the Washington-Tehran conflict has triggered it again, widening the US-Iran warThe Mirror · 22 Sept, 11:20
• Houthis battle for strategic heights in Yemen as thousands more flee homesFighting intensifies as US media say Trump called off strikes against Houthis at the last minute on Sunday.Al Jazeera · 22 Sept, 05:48
• Middle East live: Yemen fighting escalates as Trump heads to UNSaudi airstrikes on Yemen's Red Sea port of Mokha have killed at least six people as Iran-backed Houthis press their offensive. The escalation comes as the US and its allies face growing pressure to protect Saudi Arabia and regional energy infrastructure, while Donald Trump prepares to address the UN in New York. Follow our live blog for the latest developments.France 24 · 22 Sept, 04:41
• Trump considered striking Houthi rebels in Yemen last weekendSources say President Trump nearly launched airstrikes against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen over the weekend, but opted not to late Saturday. CBS News' Holly Williams and James LaPorta have more.CBS News · 22 Sept, 00:19
• British jets will help defend Saudi Arabia's oil infrastructure from missile attacks, Andy Burnham revealsAndy Burnham last night revealed he has approved a request from Riyadh for military help in fending off attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen, which are pushing up global oil prices.Daily Mail · 21 Sept, 22:08
• Andy Burnham agrees to provide military support to Saudi Arabia amid its strikes from Houthi rebelsSaudi Arabia had confirmed that Yemen’s Houthi rebels tried to attack its capital with a ballistic missile, the first targeting of Riyadh since the escalation in fighting with the Tehran-backed rebelsThe Mirror · 21 Sept, 22:00
• Andy Burnham deploys RAF over Yemen for first time to support Saudi Arabia against HouthisAn RAF jet will be deployed to help Saudi Arabia with its war against Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen, Andy Burnham said last night. The Prime Minister said he had agreed that the Saudi Air Force would be supported by an RAF A400M Voyager to aid with refuelling during its conflict with the Houthis. It is the first time Mr Burnham has deployed a RAF jet to assist another country militarily in a fresh conflict zone since he became Prime Minister two months ago. It comes days after Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen said they carried out drone and ballistic missile attacks on Riyadh…GB News · 21 Sept, 22:00
• Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen expand strikes to Saudi Arabia, alarming the U.S.Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen say they launched attacks against Saudi Arabia amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. CBS News' Holly Williams has more.CBS News · 21 Sept, 17:19
• Houthis move to seize strategic terrain after Trump calls off airstrikes at last minuteUS president reportedly changed his mind over Saudi Arabia’s pleas for assistance as bombs were being loaded Houthi fighters are moving to seize strategic heights in Yemen that would cut the Red Sea coast off from areas held by Saudi-backed forces after Donald Trump called off US strikes on the group at the last minute, reportedly as bombs were being loaded on to aircraft. Amid increasingly heavy fighting in Yemen , which has displaced tens of thousands of people in recent weeks, the New York Times reported on Monday that the US president had flip-flopped wildly in recent days after a call…The Guardian · 21 Sept, 17:14
• The Houthis’ offensive is the latest spillover from Trump’s Iran disaster | Mohamad BazziTrump’s mess has rekindled Yemen’s civil war and a years-long conflict between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia When the US and Israel launched a war of aggression against Iran in late February, Tehran’s allies in the Middle East jumped into the fray. Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia fired rockets at Israel, while Shia militias in Iraq attacked US bases and diplomatic outposts. But the Houthis, who control large parts of Yemen, mostly stayed on the sidelines. Over the past few weeks, however, the Houthis have changed their tactics and have entered the conflict in full force. They led a rapid advance…The Guardian · 21 Sept, 11:00

In this story: Houthis · Saudi Arabia · Yemen · Iran · Donald Trump · Andy Burnham · Red Sea

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log