Iran Update, September 22, 2026: The Houthis are attempting to either secure control of Yemeni oil and gas resources or force Saudi Arabia to fund salaries of Houthi government employees, either of which would solidify their political control in Yemen and weaken the Yemeni government.
More Key Takeaways:
Houthi Supreme Leader Abdulmalik al Houthi demanded that Saudi Arabia stop “depriving” Yemen of the country’s oil, gas, and other natural resource wealth during a speech on September 21. This demand indicates that the Houthis aim to control Yemen’s oil and gas reserves because Abdulmalik views the Houthi authorities as “Yemen,” not the internationally-recognized government.
The Houthis reportedly rejected earlier Saudi-proposed truce offers that would have resumed Houthi-Yemeni government negotiations on oil production and exports and civil servant salaries but did not appear to explicitly guarantee Houthi access to fuel revenues and salary funding.
The Houthis appear to be threatening Saudi Arabia’s international partners to isolate Saudi Arabia and prevent Saudi partners from forming a coalition against Houthi efforts in the Red Sea.
The Houthis damaged an Italian Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet during an attack targeting King Fahd Air Base in Taif, Saudi Arabia, on September 17. Italy deployed fighter jets to support defensive operations against Iranian strikes on Saudi Arabia. It is unclear whether the Houthis intentionally targeted the aircraft, but the Houthis questioned why the aircraft was there.
The Houthis may perceive this air defense mission as a potential hindrance to the group’s offensive campaign against Saudi Arabia, which consists chiefly of attacks on Saudi oil facilities, amid various countries’ defensive support for Saudi Arabia.
A Houthi attack that damages European aircraft deployed to Saudi Arabia to support Saudi efforts to defend against Iranian attacks also supports Iranian objectives to break the coalition defending Gulf states against Iran. (1/2)
