On September 15, 2023, U.S. officials met with representatives of the Houthis in Oman. This meeting took place following the Houthis' advances on the Red Sea coasts and the capture of strategic areas in the region.
Houthi Advances and Capture of the Red Sea Coasts
The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, have recently gained control of all the Red Sea coasts of Yemen, including the historic port of Mocha and the island of Perim in the Bab al-Mandab Strait. These developments occurred after a large-scale military operation against forces supported by Saudi Arabia. The group has controlled Yemen's capital, Sana'a, since 2014 and has been fighting against a Saudi-led coalition since then.
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Details of the Meeting and Its Consequences
The meeting took place at the U.S. Embassy in Muscat, with Omani officials acting as intermediaries in the discussions. One of the Houthi representatives, Mohammed Abdulsalam, who is under U.S. sanctions, was present at this meeting. According to reports, the Houthis informed U.S. officials that they have no intention of attacking American ships and are committed to the ceasefire until 2025.
Vice President J.D. Vance also referred to direct U.S. contacts with the Houthis, although he did not provide further details. These developments follow the Houthis' request to the U.S. for non-intervention in the Yemen war and recent communications between the Saudi Crown Prince and former President Donald Trump for military support from the U.S.
While the U.S. seeks to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and prevent the export of terrorism from the Middle East, this meeting may help reduce tensions in the region. However, the Houthis emphasized that they will only attack Saudi commercial ships.
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