US officials met Houthi leaders in Oman after Red Sea blitz, got assurances: Report
US officials reportedly met Houthi representatives in Oman to discuss Red Sea tensions, where the Houthis assured they would not attack American vessels and affirmed commitment to a 2025 ceasefire. This meeting follows a period of Houthi advances in Yemen and their blockade of Saudi shipping, with the US reportedly declining Saudi requests for direct military intervention.
Why it matters
This direct engagement between the US and Houthis signals potential de-escalation in the Red Sea and Yemen conflict, impacting regional stability, international shipping, and US foreign policy in the Middle East.
US officials reportedly met Houthi representatives in Oman on Sunday after the group occupied a significant portion of the strategic Red Sea coast while fighting against Yemen's Saudi-backed forces.According to sources cited by Reuters news agency, the meeting was held at the US Embassy in Muscat and organised by the longtime regional mediator, Oman.On Monday, Vice President JD Vance said the US was in direct contact with the group, two days after President Donald Trump revealed that the Houthis had phoned his administration and asked them to keep out of the Yemen war.Washington has reportedly negotiated with the Iran-backed group since May last year, after two months of bombing to halt a campaign of attacks on Red Sea shipping.During Sunday's meeting, the Houthis reportedly told US officials that they had no intention of attacking American vessels, affirming their commitment to the 2025 ceasefire.A Yemeni source also told Reuters that the…
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