Iran-Backed Houthi Rebels Warn Countries Against Joining Saudi Arabia

A senior official with the Iran-backed Houthi rebels warned countries against joining Saudi Arabia in Yemen's revived civil war.

Mohamed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthis' political bureau, told The Associated Press on Sunday that his group assured the Trump administration it would not attack U.S. vessels in the Red Sea. Al-Bukhaiti stated, "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. That remains the case."

Washington reached out to the rebels after their rapid advance down Yemen's western coast to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait earlier this month. US President Donald Trump said last weekend that his administration had discussions with the Houthis, though he did not specify when. Trump stated, "The Houthis called us, and they don't want to fight with us. They would much prefer not having us involved, and they're letting most ships go through."

The Associated Press later reported that Oman hosted a meeting between U.S. and Houthi representatives last weekend, citing anonymous sources. However, al-Bukhaiti only confirmed indirect contacts with U.S. officials through Oman, which brokered a 2025 ceasefire between the Houthis and the Trump administration. That ceasefire ended a weekslong U.S. bombing campaign against the rebels in return for them ceasing attacks on U.S. He asserted the rebels have the capacity to fight a war on multiple fronts should any nation become implicated in the aggression against Yemen alongside Saudi Arabia, adding, "Today, Yemen is capable of waging battle, not merely an internal conflict, but an international one as well."

The US has cautioned against a rapidly escalating situation in Yemen after Houthi rebels carried out a missile attack on the Saudi capital on Saturday.