Vance says US in direct talks with Houthis amid Saudi escalation

WASHINGTON, Sept 14: US Vice President JD Vance said Monday that Washington has been holding direct talks with Yemen’s Houthis as the Iran-aligned group escalates attacks on Saudi Arabia and expands its control near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

“We’ve also been engaged in direct conversations with the Houthis themselves,” Vance told reporters, adding that the US administration was also in contact with Saudi Arabia and other countries affected by the fighting.

“We actually feel like we are on top of the situation,” Vance said. “It’s a very fluid and dynamic thing, but we’re going to keep on monitoring it and making sure that Americans’ best interests are represented.”

His remarks come after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sought direct US military assistance against the Houthis last week.

US President Donald Trump declined to authorize American strikes against the group, while Washington offered Riyadh intelligence-sharing and targeting support.

The Houthis, who are aligned with Iran, have escalated their military activities in the region, raising concerns over security around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key maritime route linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.