Brief

Yemen asks U.S. for military aid as Houthi advances threaten Red Sea

A Yemeni official said the country is looking for U.S. help to strengthen its forces as Iranian‑backed rebels push toward the Bab al‑Mandeb Strait.

By Felo News Desk · Published Tue, 29 Sep 2026 11:50:06 GMT

A senior Yemeni official told reporters at the U.N. General Assembly that the Yemeni government is seeking U.S. military support to counter the rapid expansion of Iranian‑backed Houthi rebels along the Red Sea coast. The request was conveyed to President Donald Trump in a call earlier this week, the official, Abdullah Al‑Alimi Bawazir, said.

Al‑Alimi Bawazir said the Yemeni government does not expect U.S. troops to fight on its behalf, but it hopes for “mutual coordination on the intel and security fields” and for the U.S. to enhance Yemen’s own military capacity. He added that aerial campaigns are important but that ground support is a guarantor to end the danger posed by the Houthi militias.

The Houthi movement has recently captured key coastal towns and islands on Yemen’s Red Sea flank, including Hodeidah, Mocha and the Hanish islands, and is pushing toward the Bab al‑Mandeb Strait, a critical maritime chokepoint for global energy supplies. The advance threatens Saudi Arabia’s oil transport routes and has prompted Saudi Arabia to urge the U.S. to take military action against the rebels.

So far U.S. support has been limited to providing intelligence and targeting data. Trump had earlier announced a ceasefire with the Houthis last year and had ordered strikes against the group on Sunday, only to cancel them hours later. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. has made commitments to the Saudis and is living up to them.

Yemen has been embroiled in conflict since 2014, when the Houthis drove the internationally recognised government out of the capital, Sanaa, igniting a regional proxy war. Saudi Arabia supports the exiled government against the Iranian‑backed rebels.

Key facts

Yemen’s government is seeking U.S. military support to counter Houthi advances along the Red Sea coast (nbcnews.com)
Yemeni official Abdullah Al‑Alimi Bawazir conveyed the request to President Donald Trump in a call this week (nbcnews.com)
The Houthi rebels have captured Hodeidah, Mocha and the Hanish islands and are advancing toward the Bab al‑Mandeb Strait (nbcnews.com)
U.S. support to Yemen has so far been limited to intelligence and targeting data (nbcnews.com)

Background

The conflict has escalated since 2014 when the Houthis seized control of Sanaa. The rebels are backed by Iran and have expanded their arsenal and territorial reach, threatening key maritime chokepoints such as the Bab al‑Mandeb Strait. Saudi Arabia and its allies, including the U.S., have conducted air campaigns with limited tactical impact but high financial cost.

Timeline

2026-09-16 — Yemen’s Houthi rebels strengthen amid ongoing conflict
2026-09-15 — Houthis capture Yemen coast, face big challenges
2026-09-15 — Houthis and Saudi Arabia clash over air strikes

Why it matters

The Houthi advance threatens the Bab al‑Mandeb Strait, a vital shipping lane for global energy supplies, and could destabilise the region further.

What happens next

Yemen is awaiting a response from the U.S. regarding its request for military support. The U.S. has not yet confirmed any new commitments beyond intelligence sharing.