Frustration grows as Houthis widen Middle East conflict with US unwilling to intervene
US officials say Saudi Arabia is handling the response as the Houthis gain ground and threaten Bab al-Mandeb shipping.
- Iran-Backed Houthis seized a strategic Red Sea island and are advancing toward the critical Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, threatening one of the world's most vital shipping corridors.
- President Donald Trump signaled the US will not use military force against the group, instead relying on Saudi Arabia, which has struggled to halt Houthi advances despite training Yemeni forces for a decade.
- The IRGC has trained Houthi fighters for 12 years, evolving them into a potent force, while the US maintains a 'red line' against direct strikes, providing only intelligence and targeting data for Saudi operations.
- Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman requested US strikes from Trump last week, but the request was rebuffed, prompting Saudi Arabia to cancel a planned Gulf Cooperation Council meeting with Iran earlier this week.
- Gulf sources warn the offensive represents a new front in the Iran war that could prolong regional conflict, while Saudi Arabia cut oil exports to Europe this month, deepening the global energy crisis.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Frustration grows as Huthis widen Middle East conflict with US unwilling to intervene
Dramatic recent advances by the Iran-backed Huthis, including the seizure of a strategically important island in the Red Sea, have dealt another blow to a region reeling from the US war with Iran and exacerbated an already severe global energy crisis. But neither the US nor its key ally Saudi Arabia has a clear plan to beat back the group, multiple sources told CNN, leading many in the region to ask where the counteroffensive will come from.
The recent and drastic advances of the Houthis, backed by Iran, including the seizure of a strategically important island in the Red Sea, have dealt yet another blow to a region still affected by the war between the United States and the...
Frustration grows as Houthis widen Middle East conflict with US unwilling to intervene
By Kylie Atwood, Jennifer Hansler, Zachary Cohen, CNN (CNN) — Dramatic recent advances by the Iran-backed Houthis, including the seizure of a strategically important island in the Red Sea, have dealt another blow to a region reeling from the US war with Iran and exacerbated an already severe global energy crisis. But neither the US
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