Houthis seek to seize highlands in Yemen — Cyprus Mail
Five Yemeni military sources told Reuters that the Houthis are trying to seize strategic highlands in the provinces of Taiz and Lahij in southern Yemen. According to them, the group seeks to cut off the Red Sea coast from areas that remain under the control of Saudi-backed forces.
As Cyprus Mail reports, fighting is concentrated near the mountainous Al-Waziya area in Taiz province, as well as near Ras al-Ara on the Indian Ocean coast. This area lies between the mouth of the Red Sea, which the Houthis seized last week, and the government's base in Aden.
Reuters sources said the Houthis seek to take control of the Kahbub mountains, which separate the Red Sea coast from southern territories held by government forces. In their assessment, control of the highlands could allow the group to secure the rear of forces near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and open new fronts.
Reports of cancelled US strikes
The New York Times reported that US President Donald Trump's administration was preparing airstrikes against the Houthis on Sunday following new appeals from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. According to the newspaper, Trump cancelled the operation at the last minute, when the military was already loading bombs onto aircraft.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Reuters was unable to immediately independently verify the information, and US Central Command did not respond to a request for comment. The Houthis also said they shelled Riyadh on Saturday. Saudi Arabia did not comment on reports of possible first strikes on the capital since the start of the current escalation.
Casualties and maritime shipping
According to the UN, nearly 700 people have been killed in the new outbreak of fighting, and thousands have been injured. More than 120,000 Yemenis have left their homes within the country, while thousands more have fled across the Red Sea to Africa.
Houthi control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait poses a risk to Saudi Arabia's alternative oil export route bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. According to satellite data, Saudi export volumes through the Strait of Hormuz have reached 2.9 million barrels per day in recent days, compared with 700,000 barrels in August. The UK Maritime Trade Operations service, UKMTO, also reported that a vessel heading toward the strait was hit by a projectile and crew members sustained minor injuries.
