Houthis expand grip near Bab el

RIYADH/DUBAI: Fighting in Yemen has intensified as Houthi forces move to capture strategic mountain positions that could help them cut off the Red Sea coast from territory still controlled by Saudi-backed government forces. The Iran-aligned Houthis have made a rapid advance across parts of Yemen this month, opening a new front in the wider Middle East conflict and raising further concerns about threats to global energy and shipping routes. The developments came after a report that U. S.