Reports: US, Houthis make secret deal over Yemen war

US news reports say the United States and Yemen’s Houthi movement reached a secret arrangement in which the Houthis would permit US commercial vessels unimpeded transit through the Red Sea, provided Washington avoids direct military involvement in the Saudi-led campaign in Yemen. The account places the deal in the context of a Houthi military offensive along Yemen’s Red Sea coastline. According to the reporting, the understanding is pragmatic and focused on preserving access for shipping rather than resolving broader political disputes in the long-running Yemeni conflict. The reported terms tie a US pledge of nonintervention to Houthi steps to stop targeting or otherwise obstructing merchant traffic in a vital maritime route. The emergence of the reported agreement during intensified Houthi operations along the coast underscores how battlefield dynamics can influence diplomatic and security arrangements affecting international trade. Control or disruption of shipping in the Red Sea has attracted wide attention because the corridor is a major conduit for global commerce. The accounts are based on US media reporting summarized in the provided excerpt; they do not include official statements or detailed public confirmation from the parties involved. Further reporting would be needed to verify the precise terms, timeline and implementation of the reported understanding.