Moment Houthi and pro-Saudi forces fight ‘Mad Max-style’ desert battle as Kingdom ‘rejects Israel’s help’ in war against Yemen’s Iran-backed rebels
Social media footage, reportedly filmed at an undisclosed location in Yemen, appears to show Houthi fighters pursuing forces backed by Saudi Arabia in a desert battle. The clashes matter because the Houthis’ recent gains near the Red Sea could threaten a major global shipping route and add pressure to energy supplies.
The article says armoured vehicles were hit or overturned by explosions, while soldiers were thrown from fast-moving trucks; the footage and descriptions have not been independently verified. The conflict dates back to the Saudi-led intervention in 2015, and the Houthis have controlled Yemen’s capital since 2014. The article also reports that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman rejected an offer of Israeli support, citing concern about public backlash; it links the fighting to oil market pressures, including Brent crude reaching $106.92 a barrel.
- Footage appears to show Houthi forces pursuing Saudi-backed troops in Yemen.
- Houthi gains near the Red Sea could threaten shipping and energy supplies.
- Saudi Arabia reportedly declined Israel’s offer of military support.
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Yemen’s conflict escalated in 2014, when the Houthi movement took control of the capital, Sana’a. The Houthis are an armed group that receives support from Iran; since 2015, a Saudi-led coalition has intervened in support of Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
Saudi Arabia and the Houthis are key players in a conflict that has drawn in outside powers and caused a severe humanitarian crisis. Fighting near the Red Sea matters beyond Yemen because the route carries a large share of global shipping, including energy supplies, so disruption can affect trade and oil markets.