Houthi Advance Threatens Vital Revenue Sources, Prompting Reports of Saudi Truce Proposal

[Anchor]

Yemen's Houthi rebels, who are shaking up the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East, are advancing toward oil-rich regions controlled by the Yemeni government and the border with Saudi Arabia. As security threats reach an unprecedented peak, reports have emerged that Saudi Arabia has proposed a truce to the Houthi rebels.

Reporter Gwak Sang-eun has the details.

[Reporter]

The exterior walls of buildings are shattered and glass doors are smashed to pieces.

The roads are paved with holes and surrounding vehicles are severely damaged.

On the 17th local time, drone debris from the Houthi rebels fell in Taif, western Saudi Arabia, killing one person and injuring two others.

This marks the first time casualties have been reported on the Saudi mainland since clashes intensified between the Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces and the Houthi rebels.

Casualties continue to mount on both sides, with reports indicating that three children were killed and several others were injured in government airstrikes in Yemen's Taiz Governorate.

After seizing Mocha, Bab el-Mandeb, and Perim Island in succession last week to take control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea, the Houthis are now advancing eastward into Taiz.

Taiz is a strategic stronghold traversed by the key highway connecting Houthi-held territory to Aden, the interim capital of the Yemeni government.

If this area falls into Houthi hands, their control over the southern Red Sea will be further cemented.

At the same time, the Houthis are directly targeting Marib, the financial lifeline of the Yemeni government forces.

As the region where Yemen's largest oil and gas fields are concentrated, the fall of Marib to the Houthis would severely undermine the economic foundation of the Yemeni government.

This would also be a critical blow to Saudi Arabia.

It would open the gateway to the eastern Hadhramaut Governorate. If Hadhramaut—which accounts for more than half of the roughly 1,300-kilometer border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen—falls under Houthi influence, it would pose a massive burden on Saudi border security.

[Adam Baron / Middle East Expert (Voice): The Saudi involvement in the Yemen war is significant. The Houthis are pursuing a strategy to isolate Saudi Arabia.]

As the crisis escalated, reports emerged that Saudi Arabia asked Iran, via China, to restrain the Houthis.

However, Iran reportedly rejected the Saudi request, stating that regional peace and stability depend on the end of the US and Israeli war against Iran.

Growing desperate, Saudi Arabia has reportedly proposed a two-week truce to the Houthis through Oman, though it remains uncertain how the rapidly advancing Houthis will respond.

Video Editing: Kim Byung-jik | Design: Kim Ye-ji
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.