Houthis intensify fight to seize Kahboub mountain range, threatening Red Sea routes

Iran-backed Houthi fighters are engaged in fierce battles with Yemen’s pro-government troops for the Kahboub mountain range, which stretches between Taiz and Lahj and overlooks the Bab Al-Mandeb strait and Dhubab. Control of the high ground would give the rebels a significant tactical advantage after a recent coastal offensive that seized Dhubab. Risk analyst Mohammed Al Qadhi described the terrain as hard to advance in, while Crisis Group senior analyst Ahmad Nagi noted the Houthis are now focusing on consolidating captured areas rather than repeating past over-extension.

The clashes are the most intense since a 2022 de-facto truce, and their outcome may depend on the response of government-aligned forces, Saudi air support, and the rebels’ willingness to sustain casualties. Meanwhile, Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council chief Rashad Al Alimi sought U.S. assistance from Donald Trump, who gave no firm commitment, and the UK pledged limited RAF refuelling support for Saudi Arabia. The United Nations warns that the renewed fighting has already displaced over 120,000 people, mainly from Taiz and Lahj, with numbers expected to rise.