Houthis Push for Control of Yemen Highlands as Trump Halts Strikes

Mohamed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthis' political bureau, said his group warned all nations against joining Saudi Arabia in Yemen's war and confirmed the Houthis told the U.S. they would not attack American vessels in the Red Sea.

• 12% of world trade normally passes through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
• At least 150,000 people died in Yemen's civil war, per U.N. estimates.
• Houthis seized Mokha port and key Red Sea islands in a recent coastal advance.
• One civilian was killed by Houthi drone debris, Saudi officials said.

Why it matters: Houthi control of Yemen's western coast gives the group the ability to monitor and threaten shipping through one of the world's busiest maritime corridors. Any wider regional escalation could disrupt global trade and oil flows from the world's top oil exporter.

• A diplomatic resolution may require U.S. concessions to Iran, the reporting notes, but U.S.-Iran negotiations collapsed weeks ago.

How 41 sources split on this story

Where they split: Both outlets rely on the same AP wire report and present no divergent factual claims.

What’s next: Al-Bukhaiti said attacks on Saudi Arabia will continue until Riyadh lifts its blockade on Houthi-controlled ports.

• Oman is mediating indirect contacts between U.S. and Houthi representatives.
• Whether direct U.S.-Houthi talks are underway or only indirect contacts through Oman remains unconfirmed.
• How Saudi Arabia and its coalition partners will respond to the Houthi advance and blockade declaration is unknown.
• Whether Iran's leverage over the Houthis is sufficient to shape any diplomatic outcome is unresolved.