Houthis told US they would not attack its ships in the Red Sea — PBS NewsHour
In Yemen, Houthi representative Mohammed al-Bukhaiti said that the group had assured the administration of US President Donald Trump that it had no intention of attacking American vessels in the Red Sea. He also warned other countries against joining Saudi Arabia in the renewed armed confrontation in Yemen.
As PBS NewsHour reports, citing AP, al-Bukhaiti, who is a member of the Houthis' political bureau, said that Washington contacted the group after its advance along Yemen's western coast toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. At the same time, he confirmed only indirect contacts with US officials through Oman.
Contacts with the US and shipping
According to al-Bukhaiti, the Houthis do not intend to attack the United States or other countries in the strait, with the exception of Saudi Arabia. He claims that the purpose of the group's military operations is to ensure freedom of navigation through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Trump previously said that his administration had held discussions with the Houthis. AP also reported, citing a Houthi representative and another informed source who spoke on condition of anonymity, that Oman hosted a meeting between US and Houthi representatives last weekend.
Escalation with Saudi Arabia
Al-Bukhaiti said that the Houthis are capable of conducting combat operations on several fronts if other countries join actions alongside Saudi Arabia. According to him, attacks on Saudi Arabia will continue until Riyadh ends the blockade of Houthi-controlled areas and allows ships to enter ports under their control on the Red Sea.
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The Houthi representative placed responsibility for the new escalation on Saudi Arabia. He said that a strike attributed by the Houthis to the Saudi-led coalition hit Sanaa International Airport and prevented an Iranian plane carrying a delegation of the group from landing.
In response, the Houthis carried out missile and drone strikes against Saudi Arabia, including an attempt to attack Riyadh, but the missile was intercepted. Saudi officials said that debris from a Houthi drone killed one civilian and wounded others.
The Houthis also announced a blockade of Saudi shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea. According to the report, during its advance the group captured the port city of Mocha and key islands in the Red Sea, enabling it to better track vessel movements in the strait, through which about 12% of global trade usually passes.
The current escalation ended the 2022 truce, which had largely halted fighting in Yemen. According to UN estimates, the war has claimed at least 150,000 lives and pushed the country to the brink of famine.
