United States officials met Houthi representatives at the US embassy in the Omani capital, Muscat, over the weekend after the Iran-aligned movement seized thousands of square kilometres of territory in just a few days. With strategically important islands and large stretches of Yemen’s Red Sea coast now under Houthi control, the group has tightened its grip on the Bab al-Mandeb Strait – a crucial chokepoint for global shipping and energy supplies. During the talks, the Houthis assured US officials that they had no intention of attacking US shipping in the Red Sea, saying their restrictions would apply only to vessels linked to Saudi Arabia.
But that would still leave two of the world’s most important shipping routes facing serious disruption, with traffic through the Strait of Hormuz restricted for the past six months. Any further disruption could drive global oil and consumer prices even higher, creating another political headache for US President Donald Trump ahead of midterm elections in November. With the Houthis’ history of attacking commercial vessels, their ties to Iran and their deep ideological opposition to the US, some experts question how far their assurances can be trusted.
But some analysts say Washington may have little choice but to take the group at its word, at least for now. US military resources are reportedly depleted and growing domestic opposition to the Iran war have all limited Washington’s ability – and willingness – to open another front in Yemen. As the Houthis seized territory in southwestern Yemen, the US publication Axios reported that Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called Donald Trump twice last week, urging him to launch strikes against the group – but the US president refused.
Admiral Brad Cooper, the commander of US Central Command, subsequently travelled to Riyadh for urgent coordination talks with the crown prince. The visit suggested Washington was seeking to intensify support for Saudi Arabia while avoiding direct military involvement. Trump also attempted to reassure Riyadh, describing the crown prince as a “good friend” and promising that “everything will work out very well”.
But he offered no specific military commitment and the White House announced no explicit guarantee that the US would defend Saudi energy infrastructure or shipping routes. Axios also reported that the military chiefs of Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and Egypt attended a private gathering convened by the US. While the US has avoided intervening, Israel, whose ships and territory have previously been targeted by the Houthis, has reportedly offered to intervene in Yemen on Saudi Arabia’s behalf.
Simon Mabon, a professor of international relations at Lancaster University, however, said any Israeli involvement would probably be limited. Washington’s reluctance to act could deepen Saudi concerns about its longstanding security relationship with the US. Last September, it signed a mutual defence agreement with Pakistan, stipulating that an attack on either country would be treated as an attack on both.
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