5 hrs ago
US Officials Meet Houthis in Oman Amid Yemen Offensive
US officials secretly met representatives of the Houthis in Oman.
The Houthis are an armed group from Yemen.
The meeting happened after the Houthis captured important areas along Yemen’s Red Sea coast.
Houthi representatives reportedly said they would not attack American ships.
They also said they still supported a ceasefire reached with the United States in 2025.
One source said they would avoid attacking Israeli and most commercial ships, but not Saudi ships.
Oman helped arrange the meeting, according to some sources.
Saudi Arabia asked the United States for military help, but Washington reportedly declined to join the fighting directly.
The US State Department did not comment on the specific meeting.
US officials met Houthi representatives at the US Embassy in Muscat over the weekend, according to five sources.
The Houthis reportedly said they would not attack American vessels and remained committed to a 2025 US-Houthi ceasefire.
One source said the Houthis also pledged not to attack Israeli or commercial ships, except Saudi vessels.
The meeting came after the Houthis seized Yemen’s Red Sea coastline, including Mocha and Perim Island.
Saudi Arabia sought US military support, but Washington reportedly told Riyadh it would not directly intervene.
- Who
- US officials and representatives of Yemen’s Houthis, including Mohammad Abdulsalam and Abdelmalik al-Ajiri, reportedly attended.
- What
- They held an undisclosed meeting and discussed the 2025 ceasefire and attacks on shipping.
- Where
- The US Embassy in Muscat, Oman.
- When
- Over the weekend; one source said the meeting took place on Sunday, following Houthi advances reported the previous week.
- Why
- The discussions reportedly addressed Houthi assurances about American and commercial vessels, while the United States cited Red Sea navigation and preventing terrorism as core interests.
United States and Saudi Arabia
Houthi representatives
Red Sea security
United States and Saudi Arabia
The United States says safeguarding freedom of navigation and preventing the export of terrorism from the Middle East are core interests; Saudi Arabia sought US military support.
Houthi representatives
The Houthis reportedly told US officials they would not attack American vessels and remained committed to the 2025 ceasefire.
Commercial shipping
United States and Saudi Arabia
Washington is concerned about Red Sea shipping and has previously bombed the Houthis to halt attacks on vessels.
Houthi representatives
One source said the Houthis would not attack Israeli or commercial ships, except ships belonging to Saudi Arabia.
US involvement in Yemen
United States and Saudi Arabia
The Trump administration reportedly declined Saudi Arabia’s request for direct US military involvement, while the State Department offered no comment on the meeting.
Houthi representatives
President Donald Trump said the Houthis had asked the United States to stay out of the Yemen war.
Key facts
- Reported venue
- US Embassy in Muscat, Oman
- Reported participants
- US embassy personnel and senior Houthi officials
- Houthi assurance
- No attacks on American vessels and commitment to the 2025 ceasefire
- Shipping position
- One source said Israeli and commercial ships would not be attacked, except Saudi vessels
- Recent Houthi advance
- Effective control of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline, including Mocha and Perim Island, was reported
- Saudi request
- Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sought US military support from Donald Trump
- US response
- Washington reportedly told Riyadh it would not become directly involved
Quotes
State Department spokesperson
A spokesperson for the United States Department of State
“We have no comment on this specific reported meeting.”
theprint.in
Sources
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