US Officials Met Houthi Representatives in Oman

U.S. officials met with Houthi representatives in Oman earlier this week, days after the group seized control of Yemen's western coast and the Bab al-Mandab strait. The meeting, which was not publicly announced, took place at the U.S. Embassy in Muscat, according to three sources familiar with the matter. The Omani government, a long-time regional mediator, helped arrange the talks. The U.S. designated the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization in March 2025, though later engaged in negotiations and reached a ceasefire in May 2025 following U.S. strikes aimed at halting Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping. Houthi representatives told U.S. officials they do not intend to attack American vessels and are committed to the 2025 ceasefire. They also indicated they would not attack Israeli or commercial ships, with the exception of those belonging to Saudi Arabia. The U.S. delegation reportedly included embassy staff, while the Houthi side was represented by senior officials including Mohammed Abdulsalam and Abdulmalik Al-Ejri. A State Department spokesperson, when asked about the meeting, did not confirm it but stated that protecting freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and preventing the export of terrorism are key U.S. priorities. The Houthis recently took full control of Yemen's Red Sea coastline, including the port of Mokha and Perim Island in the Bab al-Mandab strait. The group has been fighting a Saudi-led coalition for over a decade. Following a lull in fighting, clashes renewed in July when the Houthis declared a blockade on Saudi ships in response to a Saudi blockade of Yemeni ports. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly contacted former President Trump last week seeking U.S. military support amid Houthi advances. Washington informed Riyadh it would not intervene directly, but a U.S. military task force is enhancing intelligence sharing and planning support for Saudi forces. The U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia has advised citizens to reconsider travel to the Kingdom due to Houthi attacks and the risk of targeting U.S. interests with Iranian drones and missiles.