U.S. Officials Met Houthi Representatives in Oman as Group Pledges Not to Target American Ships

U.S. officials held a secret meeting with Houthi representatives at the U.S. Embassy in Muscat, Oman, over the weekend, according to five sources cited by Reuters. The talks were facilitated by Oman.

During the meeting, Houthi representatives said they had no intention of attacking American vessels and remained committed to the 2025 ceasefire with the United States, according to two sources.

A Yemeni source also said the group pledged not to attack Israeli ships or other commercial vessels, with an exception for vessels belonging to Saudi Arabia.

The U.S. State Department did not confirm the meeting but said protecting freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and preventing the spread of terrorism remain core U.S. interests.

The talks come amid renewed fighting between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, while Washington has so far limited its support for Riyadh to intelligence assistance rather than direct military intervention.