The US is staying out of Saudi Arabia’s fight with the Houthis

US officials met Houthi representatives in Muscat over the weekend, and Washington has decided not to join Saudi Arabia’s campaign to reverse the Houthi advance in Yemen.

The Houthis told the US they would not target American or other international shipping in the Red Sea, while continuing to treat Saudi-linked shipping as a target. The decision leaves Saudi Arabia facing the Houthi push without US military backing, even as the group holds its new positions around the Bab el-Mandeb.