Yemen’s Houthi movement has told Washington that it does not intend to attack US vessels in the Red Sea, according to a senior official, after reports that US President Donald Trump cancelled planned strikes against the group.
The statement comes amid rapidly escalating tensions around the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a vital maritime route connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Fighting between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia has already disrupted regional security, energy exports and commercial shipping.
What the Houthis told Washington
Mohamed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthi political bureau, said the group had been contacted by the United States after its recent advance along Yemen’s western coast.
He said the Houthis had assured Washington that US ships, and vessels from other countries, would not be targeted in the strait, with the exception of Saudi vessels. The official also warned that the group could fight on several fronts if another country joined Saudi Arabia’s military campaign in Yemen.
The remarks represent a reported communication from a Houthi political figure rather than a formal international agreement. No details were provided about the channel used, and Washington has not publicly confirmed the terms of any contact.
Reports of a US decision to cancel strikes
US media reports said President Trump had considered military strikes against Houthi positions but abandoned the plan at the last minute after a call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The White House did not publicly explain Trump’s early return from Camp David or comment on the reported cancellation. The US State Department instead warned that the conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis could intensify quickly.
Washington also advised US citizens outside the Middle East to seriously reconsider travel to and through the region. Restrictions were separately placed on travel by US government employees to the Saudi cities of Taif and Yanbu.
Why Bab el-Mandeb matters
The Bab el-Mandeb is one of the world’s most strategically important waterways. It links maritime traffic travelling through the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the wider Indian Ocean, making it important for global trade, energy transport and supply chains.
The Houthis have taken control of sections of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline and key islands, according to the source report. Their advance has raised concerns about whether they could exert greater influence over shipping through the strait.
The group says navigation remains open to vessels from most countries but has warned that Saudi ships are excluded. That position has heightened uncertainty for:
- Commercial shipping operators using the Red Sea route
- Energy exporters and importers
- Ports and fuel infrastructure in Saudi Arabia
- Countries dependent on secure maritime trade
Saudi Arabia reports missile interceptions
The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis. It said several attacks had targeted civilian areas and infrastructure in western Saudi Arabia, including Yanbu, an important Red Sea oil-export hub.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for missile and drone operations aimed at locations in Riyadh and facilities linked to Saudi oil company Aramco in Yanbu. These claims and counterclaims have not been independently resolved in the supplied reporting.
Saudi Arabia has responded with airstrikes on Houthi-held areas but has not stopped the group’s territorial advance. The fighting has also affected Saudi exports and maritime traffic.
Humanitarian and regional risks
The Houthi offensive has reportedly displaced more than 110,000 people, according to the UN refugee agency cited in the source material. The military escalation adds to an already serious humanitarian situation in Yemen.
Regional governments are also assessing the possibility of a wider conflict. Turkey’s foreign minister said Ankara had discussed the situation with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, including possible assistance related to military and technical needs.
Separately, CIA Director John Ratcliffe travelled to Cairo for talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The visit followed discussions between Saudi and Egyptian leaders about maintaining safe navigation through Bab el-Mandeb.
What happens next?
The immediate question is whether the Houthi pledge will reduce the risk to US shipping or whether further attacks will trigger a new military response. The group has linked an end to its attacks on Saudi Arabia to the lifting of what it describes as a blockade on Houthi-held areas and improved access for vessels to Red Sea ports under its control.
Saudi Arabia has not accepted those conditions, and the source material provides no indication of a ceasefire or negotiated settlement. The United States has also not confirmed that it has reached a lasting understanding with the Houthis.
For shipping companies and governments, the situation remains fluid. Any further missile or drone attacks near ports, airports, fuel storage sites or commercial shipping lanes could increase insurance costs, divert vessels and place additional pressure on global energy markets.
Conclusion
The Houthi pledge not to target US ships may create a narrow channel for avoiding direct US involvement, but it does not resolve the wider Saudi-Houthi conflict. With Bab el-Mandeb under growing strategic pressure and attacks continuing around Saudi infrastructure, the next confirmed military or diplomatic move will determine whether tensions ease or spread further across the region.
