The United States has begun direct discussions with Yemen’s Houthi rebels, Vice President JD Vance said on Tuesday, as the strategic situation around the Red Sea continues to deteriorate. Vance said Washington was closely monitoring developments and maintaining contact with countries affected by the escalating regional tensions.
The development follows the reported capture of the Yemeni port of Mokha by Houthi forces on Thursday and Perim Island on Friday. The two locations are strategically significant because of their proximity to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a narrow maritime passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea.
The Houthi advance has increased concerns over shipping through the waterway, which is an important route for global trade and energy supplies. The group has previously announced naval restrictions on Saudi oil vessels and has also carried out attacks involving Saudi and Indian-flagged ships, according to the supplied report.
Vance said the United States was maintaining regular communication with countries including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. He described the situation as a matter Washington was taking seriously.
The latest developments come amid wider instability in West Asia, including disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz linked to tensions involving Iran. The simultaneous pressure on two major maritime routes has increased the strategic importance of the Bab el-Mandeb corridor.
As Houthi forces expand their control along parts of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline, Washington’s reported direct engagement marks a new diplomatic dimension in efforts to manage the unfolding regional crisis.
