Yemen's Saudi-backed government forces said Saturday that they had struck Iran-allied Houthi fighters in the Red Sea city of Mocha, as the number of civilians forced to flee the renewed fighting soared. US news site Axios reported that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman had twice called US President Donald Trump to request American strikes on the Houthis last week but the request was rejected.

The Houthis launched a large-scale offensive last week against Yemeni government forces backed by Saudi Arabia.

Government forces retreat south to establish alternate command center, aiming to keep vital shipping route in their hands; women and children flee Mocha for safer provinces

Houthi militants seized Yemen's Mocha port, threatening vital global energy supplies. This escalation occurs as Iran and the United States engage in tit-for-tat attacks. …