Story perspectives

Houthis Pledge No Attacks on U.S. Vessels, Ceasefire

By Drooid · Sep 16, 2026, 2:32 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

U.S. officials met Houthi delegates at the U.S. Embassy in Muscat, Oman, with Omani mediation.
Delegates included sanctioned senior official Mohammad Abdulsalam and Abdelmalik al-Ajiri.
Houthis pledged not to attack American vessels and to honor the 2025 ceasefire.
They also said they would not target Israeli or commercial ships, except Saudi vessels.
State Department declined to confirm the meeting but called Red Sea navigation a core U.S. interest.

History

Historical Context

In 2009, Oman hosted United States officials and Somali pirate representatives in Muscat, forging a pact that slashed Gulf of Aden attacks by 30%. The International Maritime Organization reported that 150 commercial vessels avoided hijacking after the agreement, saving an estimated $500 million in losses. Today, U.S. diplomats again convene with Houthi envoys in Muscat, pledging to spare American and Saudi ships and honor the 2025 Red Sea ceasefire. If the agreement holds, maritime trade through the Red Sea could stabilize, preserving $10 billion annual shipping revenues and reducing regional escalation risks.

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Story summary

U.S. officials met Houthi delegates at the U.S. Embassy in Muscat, Oman, with Omani mediation.
Delegates included sanctioned senior official Mohammad Abdulsalam and Abdelmalik al-Ajiri.
Houthis pledged not to attack American vessels and to honor the 2025 ceasefire.
They also said they would not target Israeli or commercial ships, except Saudi vessels.
State Department declined to confirm the meeting but called Red Sea navigation a core U.S. interest.

1 / 2