Secret US-Houthi talks emerge as Saudi battles Houthi advance
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Muscat: Secret US-Houthi talks in Oman have shed light on Washington’s decision to stay out of Saudi Arabia’s fight against the advancing Houthi movement in Yemen. US officials met Houthi leaders at the US embassy in Muscat over the weekend. The meeting was held as the Iran-backed group expanded its control in western Yemen, a report by The Guardian said.
The Houthis told US officials that the 2025 ceasefire was still in place. They also said they had no plans to attack US shipping in the Red Sea. Saudi-linked vessels were considered targets because of their role in the blockade of Yemen.
The talks help explain why US President Donald Trump has condemned the Houthis' advance but has so far rejected direct military action in support of Riyadh. Trump said the offensive threatened freedom of navigation through the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Washington is already involved in an expensive conflict with Iran. Tehran backs the Houthis. The US designated the Houthis as a foreign terrorist entity in March 2025. However, American officials have continued contacts with groups and governments considered adversaries.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance confirmed that Washington was in direct contact with the Houthis. A former US deputy ambassador to Yemen said the contacts suggested a tacit understanding between the two sides.
The US position has increased pressure on Saudi Arabia. Riyadh now faces a choice between seeking a diplomatic solution and building a regional alliance with Pakistan and Turkey.
The Houthis seized large parts of western Yemen along the Red Sea coast last week. Tensions rose further after Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a Houthi drone near Mecca. Saudi Arabia called any attack on the holy city a red line. Yemen’s internationally recognised government, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and Pakistan condemned the reported incident.