The United States has opened a direct communication channel with the Houthis even as Saudi Arabia intensifies its military campaign against the Iran-backed group in Yemen, creating a potentially significant divide between Washington and Riyadh. The development comes as the security situation around the Red Sea and the strategically vital Bab al-Mandeb Strait remains tense, with the US prioritising freedom of navigation while Saudi Arabia faces continued attacks from Yemen.
According to a report published by OpIndia on September 18, American diplomats met representatives of the Houthis in Muscat, Oman, during the weekend. The discussions reportedly focused on maintaining the May 2025 ceasefire between Washington and the group and keeping the Bab al-Mandeb Strait open to international shipping. The meeting was facilitated by Oman, which has repeatedly played a role in diplomatic contacts involving regional conflicts.
The American approach is notable because Saudi Arabia is simultaneously stepping up its military operations against the Houthis. Riyadh has increased airstrikes against positions in Yemen, while forces supported by Saudi Arabia have struggled to achieve a decisive ground advance. The group continues to hold territory along Yemen’s Red Sea coastline and positions around areas that provide influence over one of the world’s important maritime passages.
The contrast between Washington’s diplomatic engagement and Riyadh’s military strategy has raised questions about the future direction of the US-Saudi relationship. Saudi Arabia has reportedly sought direct American military involvement, but Washington has so far avoided entering the conflict on Riyadh’s side. Instead, the United States appears to be concentrating on preventing disruption to commercial shipping and limiting the possibility of a wider regional confrontation.
The Houthis have indicated during the discussions that they want their ceasefire with Washington to continue. They reportedly told American representatives that their attacks were directed at Saudi-linked vessels because of the renewed fighting with Riyadh, while other shipping would be permitted to move through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The claim reflects the group’s stated distinction between its conflict with Saudi Arabia and the broader question of international maritime traffic.
The importance of the talks was underscored when US Vice President JD Vance confirmed on September 14 that Washington had been engaged in direct conversations with the Houthis. While the State Department did not specifically confirm the Muscat meeting, it said that protecting freedom of navigation in the Red Sea remained a core American interest. The department also reiterated Washington’s opposition to aggression from Iran and groups it considers Iranian proxies.
The developments also underline Oman’s growing diplomatic importance. Muscat has maintained channels with multiple parties in Middle Eastern conflicts and was involved in facilitating the latest communication between Washington and the Houthis. On September 15, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi about regional tensions and diplomatic efforts.
For Saudi Arabia, however, the situation presents a complicated strategic picture. Riyadh is confronting an armed movement capable of threatening its territory, while its principal American partner is pursuing a separate diplomatic track with the Houthis. The difference does not necessarily mean that the broader US-Saudi partnership has collapsed, but it does demonstrate that the two countries may have different immediate priorities in Yemen.
Washington’s calculation appears to centre on containing threats to maritime commerce rather than becoming directly involved in every aspect of Saudi Arabia’s confrontation with the group. For Riyadh, the priority is more directly connected to preventing attacks on Saudi territory and reducing the military capabilities of its adversary.
The situation remains fluid, particularly because developments in Yemen are closely linked to wider tensions involving Iran, Saudi Arabia, Oman and maritime security. Any breakdown in the existing US ceasefire could again place commercial vessels at greater risk and increase pressure on Washington to respond.
For now, the diplomatic channel provides Washington with an alternative to immediate military escalation, while Saudi Arabia continues its campaign on the ground and from the air. The differing approaches could shape the next phase of the Yemen conflict and determine whether the Red Sea remains a manageable security challenge or becomes another flashpoint in the wider Middle Eastern crisis.