Escalating Houthi Actions Strain US Middle East Involvement
WHO:
CNN - President Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Houthis, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Barbara Leaf (former US diplomat), Joey Hood (former US ambassador), Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
WHAT:
[19:50 CEST] - The Guardian - Trump stated, “Well, we’re talking to the Houthis also, and they would like to see if we can make a deal. It’ll all work out.”
[19:50 CEST] - The Guardian - Trump mentioned that the Iranian regime is losing in every way and is currently seeking a deal.
[19:50 CEST] - The Guardian - Trump has increasingly turned to economic measures following initial military strikes on Iran that failed to force capitulation.
[19:50 CEST] - The Guardian - The Trump administration has installed a new round of secondary sanctions aimed at cutting Iran off from countries still doing business with it.
[19:14 CEST] - The Guardian - A bitter inquest is underway among Yemen’s anti-Houthi forces regarding the sudden military collapse of more than 15 brigades.
[19:14 CEST] - The Guardian - It is believed that as many as 30,000 well-equipped fighters retreated during the recent military rout.
[19:14 CEST] - The Guardian - The governor of Hadramaut claimed that billions of dollars were offered to persuade the forces defending the west coast to abandon their position.
[19:14 CEST] - The Guardian - The Houthis captured the headquarters of the National Resistance Forces, which was supposed to contain six military brigades and sophisticated weaponry provided by Saudi Arabia.
CNN - The Houthis seized a strategically important island in the Red Sea.
CNN - The Houthis are advancing with the goal of asserting control over the Bab al Mandeb Strait.
CNN - The Trump administration has indicated it has little interest in using the American military to intervene against the Houthis.
CNN - The Houthis have been accused of targeting Mecca and claimed to have shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet.
CNN - The Houthis were designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the Trump administration in March 2025.
CNN - Saudi Arabia cut oil exports to Europe for the month of September.
WHERE:
CNN - The Red Sea, Bab al Mandeb Strait, Yemen, Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Strait of Hormuz.
WHEN:
CNN - The fighting between Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces and the Houthis has resumed and intensified in recent weeks.
CNN - A UN-brokered truce was established in 2022.
CNN - The Trump administration's designation of the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization occurred in March 2025.
WHY:
[19:14 CEST] - The Guardian - Tawakkol Karman, a Yemeni Nobel Peace Prize winner, has called for an investigation into the military collapse.
[19:14 CEST] - The Guardian - The withdrawal of forces from the Houthi-held port city has been described as a “great betrayal” by political activist Abdu Mukabib.
CNN - The Houthis' actions are seen as a new front in the Iran war, complicating negotiations with Iran.
CNN - The Houthis are perceived to be emboldened by their relationship with Iran.
HOW:
CNN - The US is providing Saudi Arabia with intelligence and targeting data support against the Houthis.
CNN - The Trump administration has turned to economic measures and secondary sanctions against Iran following initial military strikes that failed to force capitulation.
(UPDATED September 19, 2026 05:58 UTC)
President Trump has indicated that discussions are ongoing with the Houthis, expressing optimism about the potential for a deal, while also asserting that the Iranian regime is losing and seeking an agreement. In response to previous military actions that did not achieve their objectives, Trump has shifted focus to economic measures, including a new round of secondary sanctions aimed at isolating Iran further. Meanwhile, Yemen's anti-Houthi forces are grappling with a significant military setback, as over 15 brigades reportedly collapsed, leading to the capture of key positions by the Houthis, prompting calls for an investigation into what has been labeled a "great betrayal."
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(UPDATED September 19, 2026 04:58 UTC)
In a significant development, the Houthis have seized a strategically important island in the Red Sea and are advancing to assert control over the Bab al Mandeb Strait, raising tensions in the region. The Trump administration has indicated a reluctance to use American military force against the Houthis, who have been accused of targeting Mecca and recently claimed to have shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has cut oil exports to Europe for September, as the fighting between Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces and the Houthis has intensified in recent weeks, complicating negotiations with Iran.