Houthi Official Warns Against Joining Saudi Arabia in Yemen's War, Claims No Threat to US Shipping

A senior official with the Iran-backed Houthi rebels is warning countries against joining Saudi Arabia in Yemen’s revived civil war, asserting that his group has assured the Trump administration it will not attack U.S. vessels in the Red Sea. Mohamed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthis’ political bureau, told The Associated Press on Sunday that Washington reached out to the rebels following their rapid advance down Yemen’s western coast toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

"We confirmed that we are not targeting the United States, or any other nation, in the strait, with the sole exception of the Saudi enemy," al-Bukhaiti said in a Zoom interview from the rebel-held capital, Sanaa. "That remains the case."

U.S. President Donald Trump had previously stated his administration had "had discussions" with the Houthis, noting that the rebels "called us, and they don’t want to fight with us." The AP later reported that Oman hosted a meeting between U.S. and Houthi representatives, citing sources familiar with the talks. Al-Bukhaiti confirmed indirect contacts with U.S. officials facilitated by Oman, a longtime mediator.

"The goal of our military operations is not to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, but rather to ensure freedom of navigation through it for everyone, including Yemen," al-Bukhaiti stated. He added that the rebels possess the capacity to fight a war on multiple fronts should any nation become implicated in the aggression against Yemen alongside Saudi Arabia, suggesting Yemen is capable of waging "not merely an internal conflict, but an international one as well."

Al-Bukhaiti said Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia will continue until Riyadh ends its blockade on rebel-held areas and allows vessels to reach Houthi-controlled ports on the Red Sea, after which negotiations could begin. He attributed the latest escalation to a Saudi-led coalition airstrike on Sanaa International Airport that prevented an Iranian flight carrying a Houthi delegation from landing. The Houthis retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Saudi Arabia, including one targeting Riyadh that was intercepted and resulted in civilian casualties.

The rebels also declared a blockade on Saudi shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea, targeting Saudi-linked vessels and oil facilities. The Saudi-led coalition has struggled to contain the Houthis, leading to a potential shift towards a diplomatic solution that might involve U.S. concessions to Iran, which holds leverage over the rebels.

Mahdi al-Mashat, president of the Houthi Supreme Political Council, stated Sunday that the Houthis have not closed the door to peace. The U.S. has not indicated any interest in military involvement.

The Houthis’ recent advance has placed them in control of the crucial port city of Mokha and key Red Sea islands overlooking the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital corridor for global trade. This escalation ended a 2022 ceasefire that had largely halted the civil war, which began with the Houthi takeover of Sanaa 12 years ago. The Saudi-led coalition intervened the following year. The conflict has resulted in significant casualties and pushed Yemen toward famine.