In the mountains above the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, one of humanity's most vital maritime corridors, a war is being fought not only for territory but for the shape of an entire region's future. Houthi forces press toward the Kahboub peaks in Yemen's Taiz and Lahj provinces, seeking to consolidate coastal gains and sever the government-held south, while Washington — pressed by Riyadh to intervene — stepped back from the edge of direct military action at the last moment. The decision reflects a recurring tension in modern statecraft: the weight of alliance obligations measured against the limits of
Houthis battle for Yemen's strategic heights as Trump reportedly halts strikes
At least 674 people killed and nearly 3,000 injured since August 6; 158,000 displaced this month; over 18 million Yemenis face acute food insecurity.