Yemeni forces target Houthis and a Saudi base as US rules out direct role

What the report says

Yemen’s war escalated on Wednesday as forces aligned with the internationally recognised government, the Saudi-led coalition and Houthi fighters exchanged attacks across several fronts, including the Red Sea coast and Marib province. Al Jazeera, citing AP and Reuters, reported strikes around the port city of Mocha, drone attacks in Marib and Houthi claims that they downed a Saudi F-15 over Marib and fired on a Saudi airbase and an oil facility in Yanbu.

The report said the United States publicly reaffirmed support for Yemen’s government while also holding direct talks with Houthi representatives in Oman last weekend, according to Reuters sources. US officials said the meeting was held at the US embassy in Muscat with Omani assistance, and that the Houthis said they did not intend to attack US vessels and remained committed to a 2025 ceasefire with Washington. Separately, the US embassy in Yemen said Washington stood with the government against Houthi aggression.

The article also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s request for additional missile-defence help from regional and Western partners, including France, Pakistan, Egypt and the United Kingdom. According to AP sources, Riyadh is concerned about depleting interceptor stocks, while the US is also seeing its own supply run lower. The reported strain on air-defence systems matters because Saudi Arabia’s ability to intercept drones and missiles remains central to its campaign in Yemen and to the wider security picture in the Red Sea region.