Fighters affiliated with the Yemeni government, backed by Saudi Arabia, confront the Houthis in Al-Jawf province on Sept. 15, 2026. (Photo: AFP)
U.S. officials secretly met last weekend in Oman with Houthi representatives, according to five sources close to the matter, just days after the Iran-linked group launched a major offensive on Yemen’s Red Sea coast against the Saudi-backed government coalition.
The meeting, which was not made public, was held at the U.S. embassy in Muscat. Oman, a longtime mediator in the region, is said to have helped organize the talks. During the meeting, which reportedly took place on Sunday, the Houthis assured that they do not intend to attack U.S. ships and remain committed to the cease-fire agreed with Washington in 2025. They also stated that they would not target Israeli or commercial vessels, except those owned by Saudi Arabia.
The U.S. delegation consisted of embassy staff. The Houthi delegation included Mohammad Abdulsalam, a senior official based in Muscat who is under U.S. sanctions, as well as Abdelmalik al-Ajiri.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday that the Houthis contacted his administration to ask the United States to stay out of the war in Yemen. Vice President JD Vance confirmed Monday that Washington is in direct contact with the group. When asked by Reuters about the meeting, the State Department did not confirm it, but emphasized that freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and counterterrorism remain core U.S. interests.
The Houthi rebels last week took control of the entire Yemeni Red Sea coastline, including the port of Mokha and the island of Perim in the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
The movement, which has controlled Sanaa since 2014, has been fighting for more than a decade against a coalition led by Saudi Arabia. Clashes resumed in July after the Houthis announced a blockade targeting Saudi ships in the Red Sea.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman recently sought U.S. military support in response to this advance, but Washington told Riyadh it would not intervene directly, according to Reuters.
