Why the Houthis are fighting for Yemen's Kahboub Mountains

The Houthis are fighting for Yemen's Kahboub Mountains to consolidate control over recently seized Red Sea coastline near the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a critical global shipping route. Success would significantly shift the balance of power in Yemen's war. The mountainous region spans parts of Lahj and Taiz governorates, with heights about 40km from the waterway. Experts say the high ground serves primarily as defensive cover for Houthi coastal positions, protecting supply routes and making missile and drone operations harder to disrupt, rather than as a launchpad for ship attacks. Control of Kahboub could pressure Taiz, a symbolically important city, and potentially weaken its connection to Aden. The Houthis have stated restrictions would only target Saudi-linked shipping, though past attacks have hit vessels with no clear connection to stated targets.