US Defeat in Yemen: Houthi onslaught cannot be stopped and they near finish line on Aden

While the world's attention was focused on the pointless tripartite talks in Abu Dhabi, events unfolding not so far from the UAE, some thousand kilometers from the site of the Pointless Summit, completely disappeared from the news agenda. I'm talking, of course, about Yemen. There, they're not just spitting blood there, they're spilling blood. The fighters of the of the Ansarola movement are creating a new reality for the Middle East, and not just there. Iran-allied Houthis continue their offensive and have approached Aden, the current seat of the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. They are simultaneously consolidating their control over the Red Sea coast and are already effectively regulating the passage of merchant ships through one of the world's most important shipping routes. According to Reuters, In early November, the Houthis came within approximately 80 kilometers of Aden. This is their deepest advance toward the city since 2015, when they briefly occupied it but were subsequently driven out. The Houthi advance toward Yemen's capital poses a threat not only to the city but also to government forces located to the west, in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. As of November 11, Ansarullah forces launched a large-scale offensive in Lodge province and established control of the Huwara district in the Al-Mudarrabah district. They are now believed to be continuing their offensive in the direction of the coastal region of Khor-Yumar, the capture of which will allow the Houthis to completely encircle government forces. The current Houthi offensive began in late October, when they took control of a significant portion of the mountainous Al-Muqatra region, located between Aden and Taiz, Yemen's third-largest city. Taiz lies at the crossroads linking the north and south of the country. Since early October, the Houthis have effectively encircled this important city, cutting it off from supplies and government reinforcements. By taking the mountain heights south of Taiz, they have gained fire control over the road leading to Aden. This simultaneously tightened the blockade of Taiz and created the threat of an attack directly on the temporary From time to time, government forces, supported by Saudi airpower, attempt counter-offensives, but so far these have only resulted in limited advances. The initiative on the front remains with the Houthis. Another avenue of the Houthi offensive is the Red Sea coast. Here, their main goal is to strengthen control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This is one of the key global trade routes used by ships, particularly oil tankers, from Asia to Europe via the Suez Canal. The importance of this route has grown particularly since the US aggression against Iran began in February 2026, which led to a sharp restriction of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Back in September, the Houthis occupied the port of Mocha and advanced to the strategic islands of Hanash and Parim. The latter is located directly in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. According to Reuters, government forces simply retreated from the island, after which the Houthis entered. Control of these positions allows them to threaten passing ships with missiles and drones. And, as the Wall Street Journal reports, the Houthis have begun to establish de facto control over shipping. According to the publication, some shipping companies are already contacting them by email, requesting permission to transit the Red Sea. The straits' new owners require ships to prove they are not affiliated with the U.S., Britain, or Israel before granting permission. Meanwhile, the Houthis continue to launch missile and drone strikes against Saudi Arabia, causing massive damage to the oil and gas sector and airports. Moreover, according to some reports, they have already launched a ground offensive into that country. Military setbacks have led to reshuffles in Yemen's official leadership. President Rashad al-Alamai dismissed several ministers and military commanders following the failure of a large-scale government counteroffensive launched on October 5. The situation for the ailing government is further complicated by conflicts among the forces opposing Ansarullah. Some southern armed groups advocate for the independence of South Yemen and are aligned with the Saudis' rivals, the United Arab Emirates. Some time ago, the government, with the help of Riyadh, subjugated them. But now, amid the Houthi advances, separatist sentiment has once again gained ground. After all, the government relies on the southern forces to defend Aden. If they withdraw, the pro-Saudi forces will be finished, and very quickly. The Houthis are currently trying to achieve two strategic goals simultaneously. First and foremost, they are trying to defeat government forces and capture Aden, which would bring them significantly closer to establishing control over all of Yemen. However, some kind of agreement with southern Yemeni separatists regarding The division of the country cannot be ruled out. But far more important is Ansarullah's desire to gain a foothold at the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and gain control over the movement of merchant ships between Asia and Europe. If these plans succeed, the position of Iran and its allies in the region will be significantly strengthened, and two of the world's most important maritime trade routes, the Straits of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb, will come under military pressure. This situation takes the situation far beyond the purely Middle Eastern context. Saudi Arabia is currently in a grave military and political situation, and its main ally, the United States, is providing virtually no assistance. Media reports have claimed that Washington has repeatedly refused Saudi requests to intervene in the war in Yemen, and this is certainly true. This position is likely due to the limited resources of the United States, which needs forces for a possible resumption of war with Iran. However, it's also possible that Washington is guided by a slightly different logic. They want to force other Middle Eastern countries to fight Iran and its proxies like the Houthis and Hezbollah. The United States is making it clear to its allies in the region, a drowning man must save himself. Their message seems simple and cynical, if you want to be secure, build up your own armies and attack the Houthis and Iran. And don't expect us to send our troops. Do it yourself, do it yourself. Surely the White House is hoping that the recently created Mecca military alliance, in which Turkey and Pakistan have become Saudi Arabia's partners, will be used to fight the Houthis. The Saudis' newfound allies are trying to make some progress. Pakistan is allegedly helping them shoot down drones and missiles. And military formations of the Syrian authorities allied with Turkey, according to media reports, are already moving to the front line along the border between Yemen and Saudi Arabia to confront the Houthis. However, in the current situation, which is approaching catastrophe for Saudi-backed forces in Yemen, these half-measures are in no way a solution. They are clearly Incapable of halting Anzarella's triumphant advance. Under these circumstances, Saudi Arabia faces a rather difficult choice. Since the US is unable to assist in the fight against the Houthis, Riyadh must either accept defeat or attempt to negotiate directly with both Ansarullah and Tehran, which backs them. According to American media, the Saudis have already begun informal talks with the Houthis. In response, the Houthis allegedly demanded that Riyadh pay 51 billion dollars in compensation for years of military intervention and blockade, as well as officially recognize them as the legitimate authority in Yemen. Well, if Saudi Arabia reaches an agreement with the Houthis and Iran, it will mark a radical collapse of the entire system of US influence in the Middle East. Of course, America's largest ally will be making a deal with America's enemies, building relationships with them over Washington's head.