US and Houthi Militants Hold Secret Meeting in Oman Amid Red Sea Tensions
The United States and Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militant group held a secret meeting in Oman, where the Houthis assured US officials that they had no intention of attacking American vessels. The meeting was reportedly organized by Oman with the help of the US Embassy in Muscat.
According to Reuters, the Houthis also committed to the 2025 ceasefire with the United States and stated that they would not attack Israeli ships or other commercial vessels, except those belonging to Saudi Arabia.
Former US deputy ambassador to Yemen Nabeel Khoury said that a 'tacit understanding' was reached between the Trump administration and the Houthis over navigation in the Red Sea. He noted that the Houthis are promising not to affect American and international navigation, but only pose a danger to Saudi ships or those carrying Saudi oil.
The meeting comes as the Houthi militants have seized strategic stretches of the Red Sea coast in an offensive against Saudi-backed forces.