US Affirms No Negotiations with Houthis Despite Security Contacts
THE UNITED STATES has affirmed that it is not negotiating with the Houthi armed group, even though Washington is reported to have issued warnings to the group through security channels.
Correspondence reviewed by Asharq Al-Awsat suggests that Washington utilised these channels to convey warnings to the Houthis, though the specific details of these warnings were not disclosed. However, following the emergence of this communication, the US emphasised that such contact does not constitute part of any negotiations with the Iran-backed group.
Previously, US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance mentioned that communication had occurred with the Houthis, though they did not clarify the nature or purpose of said communication. Efforts by the Houthis to provide assurances that they would not attack US vessels are viewed as an attempt by the group to secure its position following several weeks of military operations.
The Houthis are reported to have expanded their control along the western coast of Yemen facing the Bab al-Mandab Strait. This movement has once again increased risks to international shipping in this strategic waterway, through which approximately 1-2% of global trade passes.
During a UN Security Council session regarding the Bab al-Mandab on Tuesday (15/9), the US urged the Houthis to cease attacks and withdraw from seized territories. “The United States supports the legitimate government of Yemen in facing the Iran-backed Houthi militia,” Washington stated during the session.
In Yemen, the government has increased its military readiness to reclaim territory following setbacks on several fronts, including Taiz and the western coast. Government forces have also noted progress in Al-Jawf and Al-Bayda, while continuing to face Houthi attacks and militia troop deployments around Marib. The conflict has seen renewed escalation since August 2026.
The use of ‘security channels’ does not automatically imply that Washington is negotiating with the Houthis. Al-Baraa Shaiban, a fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), noted that Western nations frequently maintain such contact with armed groups, including those categorised as terrorists. According to Shaiban, such communication is usually limited to sensitive or urgent security matters, occurring outside of diplomatic and political frameworks.
He assessed that the Houthis are attempting to amplify the significance of this communication to compensate for the lack of regional and international recognition. In other words, the existence of communication does not mean Washington accepts Houthi assurances or has opened space for a political agreement.
Reports regarding US-Houthi communication have drawn significant attention in Yemen, as they contradict the group’s long-standing rhetoric openly calling for “death to America.” Mahmoud Shuhra, a fellow at Chatham House and former Yemeni diplomat, believes this development is part of a Houthi strategy that follows the tactics of Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
According to Shuhra, this pattern begins with gradual escalation. After military confrontation and gaining advantages, the group offers assurances to prevent the conflict from escalating into an open war. He noted that this pattern is evident in the developments in Bab al-Mandab.
“The Houthis have now swallowed a very large bite and are attempting to digest it,” said Shuhra. He believes the Houthis are attempting to consolidate territories under their control, and that assurances to the US and the international community are necessary to prevent an immediate military backlash.
Shuhra also assessed that the Houthis employ a pattern of dividing opponents by offering assurances at an early stage, then facing those groups individually once their position has strengthened. He cited the takeover of Sanaa as an example, where the Houthis initially sought to convince various political factions before facing each faction separately and turning others into enemies. Currently, Shura suggests a similar approach is being attempted on an international level, the success of which depends on developments on the ground.
Meanwhile, US, Israeli, and Arab military commanders held a secret meeting in Germany to discuss defence coordination in the face of tensions with Iran. The UN has strongly condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabian energy infrastructure, warning of the impact of maritime disruptions in the Red Sea on the global economy.
The Yemeni Houthi group has denied allegations of threats against Mecca after Saudi Arabia issued an air strike warning for the western region. Saudi Arabian Air Defence forces successfully destroyed a Houthi drone attempting to enter Mecca’s airspace on Tuesday night. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also strongly condemned the alleged Houthi drone attacks on Mecca and Medina, though the Houthis deny the allegations.