Houthis Vow to Spare US Ships as Tensions Rise with Riyadh

The Iran-backed Houthi rebels have announced that they will not attack US ships in the Red Sea, in a bid to ease tensions between Washington and Riyadh.

Mohamed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthi political bureau, confirmed that the group has been in indirect contact with US officials through Oman, which brokered a ceasefire between the Houthis and the Trump administration in 2025.

The Houthis have warned other countries not to join Saudi Arabia in the fighting in Yemen, where they have made significant gains against Saudi-backed forces. The group has also announced a blockade on Saudi shipping in the Red Sea and targeted several oil infrastructure sites inside Saudi Arabia.

The conflict in Yemen began 12 years ago when the Houthis seized large parts of northern and central Yemen, prompting Saudi Arabia to intervene alongside its allies in support of the internationally recognized government. The war has claimed at least 150,000 lives and pushed Yemen close to famine, according to UN estimates.