Houthi rebels in Yemen started a rapid advance on 3 September 2026. The rebels captured the town of Mokha (Wikipedia) from the government and gained control of most of the western coast of Yemen. This move threatens shipments through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal (Wikipedia). The Saudi government is aligned with the Yemeni government and has been targeted by Houthi missiles.
The rapid advance has caused a humanitarian crisis. Approximately 18 million people are facing food insecurity NPR. Yemenis are fleeing the advancing Houthis because they are known to press young boys into service in their militia (Le Monde) and take young girls from their mothers as wives for their fighters (Moretoherstory).
On 21 September 2026 Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged US president Donald Trump to intervene. The latter agreed to use airstrikes to help the Yemeni government as Houthi forces moved to take strategic high ground that would make recapture of coastal areas more difficult. Trump agreed to the strikes but called it off at the last minute while US planes were being loaded with ordinance (Reuters).
- Houthis move to seize strategic terrain after Trump calls off airstrikes at last minute The Guardian
- Trump calls off planned US strikes on Houthis at last minute after Saudi plea â report â The Jerusalem Post
- 2026 Yemen offensives Wikipedia