US officials held talks with Houthi leaders over the weekend at the US embassy in Muscat, Oman, resulting in Washington’s decision to withhold direct military support for Saudi Arabia amid the ongoing conflict in Yemen. This diplomatic engagement marks a notable development in the complex regional dynamics involving the Iran-backed Houthi movement and Riyadh.
During the discussions, the Houthis reaffirmed their commitment to the 2025 ceasefire agreement with the United States, assuring that they do not intend to attack American vessels in the Red Sea. They specified that their operations would target only Saudi-linked shipping, citing the kingdom’s blockade of Yemen as justification. This distinction appears to have influenced the US response, as the Biden administration—while condemning the Houthi offensive along Yemen’s western coast—has so far refrained from military intervention in support of Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis’ recent rapid territorial gains along the Red Sea coast intensified calls for action in Riyadh, with Saudi officials condemning the advances as threats to navigation through the Bab al-Mandab strait. However, US Vice President JD Vance confirmed that Washington remains in direct contact with Houthi representatives despite classifying the group as a foreign terrorist organization earlier in 2025. Some analysts interpret this as part of a “tacit understanding” between the US and Houthi leadership, aiming to maintain stability in international shipping lanes while limiting escalation.
In contrast to US restraint, Saudi Arabia has sought to rally regional and international support against the Houthis. Riyadh accused the militant group of launching a drone attack on the holy city of Mecca, an allegation the Houthis vehemently denied. The Saudi-led coalition claimed the drone was intercepted before causing harm, while the Houthis dismissed the claim as false and reasserted the sanctity of the Islamic pilgrimage sites. They also reported shooting down a Saudi F-15 fighter near the city of Marib and targeting an Aramco facility in Yanbu, though these claims have not been independently verified.
The regional response has included condemnations of the alleged attack on Mecca from the UN-recognized Yemeni government based in Aden and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, while Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif labeled it a “dastardly and heinous” attempt. Meanwhile, members of the Houthi political bureau have criticized Saudi Arabia’s military campaign in Yemen as a costly and unsuccessful endeavor.
Complicating the situation further, reports have emerged about a confidential military meeting in Germany involving US, Israeli, and several Arab states’ defense chiefs. Organized by the commander of US Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, the meeting included representatives from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, and Israel. According to Israeli sources, discussions focused on coordinated efforts against Iran, with Israel offering to assist Saudi Arabia militarily in Yemen if needed.
On the diplomatic front, the UN Security Council convened to denounce any attempts to close the Red Sea strait, a critical conduit for global trade and energy shipments. Notably, Russia’s envoy appeared to soften its earlier position regarding the exclusive legitimacy of Yemen’s Aden-based government. Concurrently, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing, seeking support amid Iran’s closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. China urged the United States to resume dialogue based on the June memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington.
These developments underscore the intricate geopolitical stakes of the Yemeni conflict, involving competing regional powers, the shifting strategies of international actors, and the precarious balance of maritime security in the Red Sea corridor.