As Houthis grab Bab al-Mandeb, US appears willing to watch from sidelines

U.S. diplomats held talks with Houthi representatives in Muscat after the Iran-aligned group rapidly captured large swathes of Yemen’s Red Sea coast and several strategically important islands. The movement’s advance has bolstered its control of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a key maritime chokepoint for international trade and energy shipments. During the meetings, Houthi interlocutors assured U.S. officials that they would not target U.S. vessels and that any restrictions would apply only to ships linked to Saudi Arabia. Those assurances come amid concern that continued disruption at Bab al-Mandeb, combined with six months of restricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, could further squeeze global oil supplies and consumer markets. U.S. policymakers face limits on their ability to respond militarily. Reports cited in the source say President Donald Trump declined Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s requests for strikes after two calls, and U.S. military chiefs have been coordinating with Gulf partners while avoiding direct intervention. Admiral Brad Cooper of U.S. Central Command travelled to Riyadh for urgent talks, indicating Washington is seeking to bolster support for Saudi Arabia without opening a new front. Experts quoted in the coverage noted reasons the U.S. may be constrained: depleted military resources from the ongoing conflict with Iran, domestic opposition to further overseas campaigns, and the political sensitivities of another military commitment ahead of U.S. midterm elections. The developments have also fed conversations in the region about alternative security arrangements, as Riyadh has pursued new defence partnerships in recent months.