# As Houthis seize Bab al-Mandeb, US appears willing to stay on sidelines

https://mins.news/en/item/64267

- Al Jazeera, 2026-09-18 12:52 UTC
- World
- Original: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/18/as-houthis-grab-bab-al-mandeb-us-appears-willing-to-watch-from-sidelines?traffic_source=rss

> US officials met Houthi representatives in Muscat after the Iran-aligned group captured strategic islands and stretches of Yemen’s Red Sea coast, tightening its hold on the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The Houthis said they would not attack US shipping, while Washington reportedly rejected Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s calls for strikes and is seeking to support Riyadh without directly entering another war.

## Stories

- [Houthi Saudi Red Sea Conflict](https://mins.news/en/topic/houthi-yemen-saudi-red-sea-conflict-2026-08) — Markdown: https://mins.news/en/topic/houthi-yemen-saudi-red-sea-conflict-2026-08.md

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