US officials met with Houthi representatives in Oman, and the Houthis reportedly pledged not to target American and Israeli ships.

What it means

This reports that U.S. officials met with Houthi representatives in Oman over the weekend, and the Houthi group pledged not to attack American or Israeli ships in the Red Sea. The meeting is significant because the Houthis have been striking vessels in the Red Sea since late 2023 in solidarity with Palestinians, drawing U.S. military retaliation. The promise appears limited—they reportedly did not extend it to Saudi or other ships—and may signal an attempt to avoid further escalation with the U.S. while continuing attacks on Israel-linked targets.

Accuracy & sourcesGrounded

The claim originates from anonymous U.S. and Yemeni sources cited by the Times of Israel and corroborated by multiple outlets including Reuters, the Guardian, and Al-Monitor. It is a secondary report of a secret meeting, so exact details are unconfirmed, but the consistency across several reputable sources gives it reasonable credibility.

How new

This is genuinely new—the meeting reportedly took place over the weekend and all reporting dates from September 16, 2026.

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