Houthis announced they will not attack American and Israeli ships

Houthis announced to American officials in an informal meeting held on Sunday at the American embassy in Muscat that they have no intention of attacking American and Israeli ships. This meeting followed recent contacts between the U.S. government and the Houthis, in which the group called for Washington to distance itself from the war in Yemen.

Oman's role as a mediator

Two informed sources emphasized that the Omani government, as a long-standing mediator in the region, played an important role in organizing this meeting. Representatives from the American embassy were present, and a delegation of Houthis led by Mohammed Abdulsalam, the group's senior official, participated. Abdulsalam, who is under U.S. sanctions, assured American officials during this meeting that the Houthis would adhere to the ceasefire of 2025.

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According to one source present at the meeting, the Houthis also announced that they will not attack Israeli ships or any commercial ships, except those belonging to Saudi Arabia. This action reflects the Houthis' willingness to reduce tensions in the region and maintain stability in shipping through the Red Sea.

Consequences of the Yemen war

The Yemen war, which began in 2014, has become one of the most complex and costly crises in the Middle East. The Houthis, who control Yemen's coastline along the Red Sea, are fighting against a coalition led by Saudi Arabia. This war has progressed slowly in recent years due to ceasefires, but in July 2023, with the announcement of a blockade on Saudi ships in the Red Sea, hostilities intensified again.

Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, last week requested U.S. military support during a call with Donald Trump, the President of the United States. Reports indicate that Washington has informed Riyadh that it will not engage directly in this crisis, but maintaining freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and preventing the export of terrorism to the United States is of high importance.

The Omani embassy in the United States and Mohammed Abdulsalam have not responded to requests for comments regarding this meeting. Meanwhile, tensions in the region and developments related to the Yemen war continue, and this meeting could be a turning point in the Houthis' approach and their future interactions with the United States.

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