U.S. diplomats meet with Houthis as Red Sea crisis intensifies

American diplomats met over the weekend with Houthi representatives at the U.S. embassy in Oman and discussed tensions in the Red Sea, a regional source familiar with the issue confirmed. Why it matters: The meeting in Muscat, which was organized with the help of the Omani government, focused on maintaining a ceasefire between the U.S. and Houthis and guaranteeing that the Bab al-Mandeb Strait stays open, the source said. The U.S. is in a delicate position, wanting to keep a vital shipping lane open without getting drawn into Saudi Arabia's battle in Yemen against the Iran-backed Houthis. Washington has so far rejected Saudi requests to get involved militarily. The State Department declined to comment. Driving the news: The source said the U.S. was represented in the meeting by diplomats from the embassy, but the ambassador did not attend. The person added that Houthi representatives made clear during the meeting that they want the May 2025 ceasefire with the U.S. to continue. The source also said that Houthi representatives stressed their attacks were aimed only at Saudi ships as part of the renewed fighting between the two sides. They committed to allow freedom of navigation for all other ships through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Reuters first reported on the meeting. What they're saying: On Monday, a day after the meeting, Vice President Vance told reporters that the U.S. is negotiating with the Houthis. "We've also been engaged in direct conversations with the Houthis themselves, so we actually feel like we are on top of the situation," he said. Between the lines: Secretary of State Rubio spoke on Tuesday with Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi and discussed the efforts for deescalation in the region, the State Department said. The call came after weeks of tensions between the U.S. and Oman. President Trump threatened to bomb Oman because of talks it had held with Iran about the Strait of Hormuz. State of play: The fighting between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia has been escalating in recent days, with the Houthis launching a drone attack toward the holy city of Mecca and firing missiles at other cities in the kingdom. The Houthis are still in control of the coastal area and several islands in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The Saudis have increased their airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen. But the forces they're backing in Yemen have so far been unable to launch an effective ground counteroffensive.

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