United States officials held unpublicized talks with Yemen's Houthi representatives at the US Embassy in Oman following a dramatic Houthi offensive that seized Yemen's Red Sea coast. The Houthis assured US officials they would not target US, Israeli, or general commercial shipping, focusing their blockade solely on Saudi Arabia. Despite a terrorist designation, Washington continues direct diplomacy while refusing Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's requests for direct US military intervention.
US-Houthi meeting in Oman
- ▪The Houthi delegation at a weekend meeting between U.S. officials and Yemen's Houthi representatives held at the U.S. Embassy in Muscat included Abdelmalik al-Ajiri and Mohammad Abdulsalam, a senior official based in Muscat who is under United States sanctions
- ▪The government of Oman, acting as a regional mediator, helped organize the weekend meeting between United States officials and Houthi representatives held at the U.S. Embassy in Muscat
- ▪United States officials met with representatives of Yemen's Houthi movement at the United States Embassy in Muscat, Oman, over the weekend of September 12-13, 2026
Houthi Red Sea offensive
- ▪Fighting between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition resumed in July 2026 when the Houthis declared a blockade on Saudi shipping in response to a Saudi blockade of Yemeni ports
- ▪The Houthis seized control of Yemen's entire Red Sea coastline, including the port of Mocha and Perim Island in the Bab el-Mandeb strait, in a sweeping offensive that routed Saudi-backed forces
Houthi assurances on shipping attacks
- ▪During the weekend meeting at the U.S. Embassy in Muscat, Houthi representatives told United States officials they had no intention of attacking American vessels and remained committed to their 2025 ceasefire
- ▪A Yemeni source familiar with the weekend meeting between United States officials and Houthi representatives in Oman stated that Houthi representatives promised not to attack Israeli ships or any commercial vessels, except those belonging to Saudi Arabia
US-Houthi diplomatic history
- ▪The Trump administration designated the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization in March 2025, criminalizing support for the group
- ▪United States Vice President JD Vance stated on September 14, 2026, that the United States was in direct contact with the Houthi group
- ▪The United States negotiated a ceasefire with the Houthis in May 2025 after conducting a two-month bombing campaign to halt Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping
Saudi Arabia military support request
- ▪Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, called President Donald Trump to request United States military support amid dramatic Houthi advances
- ▪The United States government informed Saudi Arabia that Washington would not get directly involved in the Yemen war to support Riyadh against the Houthi advances
Debatable claims
- ▪The United States should provide military support to Saudi Arabia against Houthi advances
- ▪The United States should engage in direct diplomatic talks with the Houthis
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