Yemen’s Houthi movement has reportedly agreed in a secret meeting in Oman to allow unhindered US shipping through the Red Sea while upholding a 2025 ceasefire. The talks follow an intense military offensive along Yemen’s coast, though diplomatic channels remain unconfirmed by Washington.
Secret Omani Talks and the Red Sea Ceasefire
A delegation of senior Houthi leaders met with top officials from the US Embassy in Oman over the weekend, according to reports citing anonymous sources. The diplomatic engagement was organized by the Omani government and included Houthi figures Mohammad Abdulsalam—who is currently under US sanctions—and Abdelmalik al-Ajiri.
During the undisclosed Sunday session at the US Embassy in Muscat, the Houthi delegation communicated that the group remains committed to the 2025 ceasefire agreement signed with Washington. The rebels indicated they have no intention of targeting American vessels as long as Washington refrains from direct military involvement in the wider conflict against Saudi-led forces. Yemen’s Houthis have agreed to allow US shipping unfettered Red Sea access if Washington refrains from direct military involvement in the Saudi-led war.
Strategic Shifts Along Yemen’s Coastline
The diplomatic outreach unfolded concurrently with a rapid military escalation on the ground in Yemen. Over the preceding week, Houthi forces routed Saudi-backed troops to seize control of the country’s entire Red Sea coastline. This territorial advance included capturing the historic port of Mocha and Perim Island situated strategically at the mouth of the Bab el-Mandeb strait, also known as the Gate of Tears
.
Beyond the assurances given to American diplomats, a Yemeni source reported that the Houthis agreed to halt attacks against Israeli ships and other commercial vessels, while maintaining exemptions for ships belonging to Saudi Arabia. Al Jazeera noted that the arrangement gives the Houthis a freer hand in their local offensive while securing safe passage for US shipping through the Red Sea.
The development comes amid the Houthis routing Saudi Arabia-backed forces in Yemen over the past week to seize the entire Red Sea coastline, including the historic port of Mocha, and Perim Island in the Bab el-Mandeb, or Gate of Tears
strait, at the sea’s mouth. A delegation of the Iran-backed rebels reportedly met US officials in Oman over the weekend, and agreed to uphold the 2025 ceasefire agreement signed with Washington. According to Reuters, the purported meeting took place on Sunday at the US Embassy in Muscat, but has not been made public.
Washington Responds Amid Disputed Mecca Accusations
The US State Department stopped short of confirming the Muscat meeting directly, but said safeguarding freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and preventing the export of terrorism from the Middle East were core US interests. Officials reiterated that safeguarding freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and preventing the export of terrorism from the Middle East remain core American interests. The discussions follow remarks from President Donald Trump on Saturday claiming the Houthis contacted his administration, urging Washington to stay out of the Saudi-Houthi war. On Monday, Vice President JD Vance said the US was in direct contact with the Houthis, but did not provide further details.
Notably, in March 2025, the Donald Trump administration designated the Houthis a foreign terrorist organization
, but later reached a negotiated ceasefire with the Yemeni rebel group in May of that year, following a two-month bombing campaign under Operation Rough Rider
.
Simultaneously, regional tensions spiked over accusations concerning holy sites. The Houthis on Wednesday denied Saudi Arabia’s claim that the group launched a drone towards Mecca, the holiest city in Islam and home to the Holy Kaaba. Earlier, the Saudi Arabia-led coalition said its air defences intercepted and destroyed a drone south of Mecca on Tuesday evening before it entered the prohibited airspace around the holy city. In a statement, coalition spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Malki described the incident as a hostile and terrorist act
and said the security of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims was a red line
, adding that it was the second attempt to target Mecca, referring to a ballistic missile launch in July 2017.
“The fabrications and lies promoted by the criminal Al Saud regime regarding the targeting of the Honorable Mecca cannot deceive anyone, for it is they who desecrate it with debauchery and licentiousness and by importing prostitutes, and there is no threat from Yemen to the sanctities.”
Brigadier General Yahya Saree, Houthi military spokesperson
In response, Houthi military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree dismissed the coalition’s claims as fabrications and lies
on Telegram, stating that Houthi strikes only target Saudi military and oil facilities that are located away from Islam’s holy sites in the region. The Houthi commander said the group’s operations were directed at Saudi oil facilities and military bases which are far removed from the sacred sites
.
