The Houthis, who are allied with Iran, have entered the conflict that has engulfed the Middle East since it erupted on Oct. 7, attacking vessels in vital shipping lanes and firing drones and missiles at Israel.
The group that rules much of Yemen claims its attacks are in support of Palestinians and has vowed to continue until Israel ends its offensive on Gaza – more than 1,000 miles from their seat of power in Sanaa.
The Houthis are one of several groups in the Iran-aligned “Axis of Resistance” that have been attacking Israeli and US targets since the conflict began on October 7, when their Palestinian ally Hamas attacked Israel.
Their involvement in the conflict has increased regional risks, threatening sea lanes through which much of the world’s oil is shipped and causing concern in Red Sea states as Houthi rockets and drones fly towards Israel.
Riyadh, the world’s largest oil exporter, has been watching with concern as Houthi missiles have been launched over its territory.
With the Houthis increasing their attacks on shipping in recent weeks, two sources familiar with Saudi thinking said Riyadh’s message of restraint to Washington was intended to prevent further escalation. According to the sources, Riyadh was so far pleased with the way the US handled the situation.
“They pressed the Americans about this and why the Gaza conflict should stop,” one of the sources said.
The White House did not respond.
The Saudi government did not respond to an email seeking comment on the talks.
As Saudi Arabia pushes for a ceasefire to end what it calls a “barbaric war” in Gaza, its diplomacy reflects a broader policy aimed at promoting regional stability following years of conflict with Iran and its allies.
Riyadh, which is focused on expanding and diversifying the Saudi economy, normalized ties with Tehran this year and is seeking to end the war it has been fighting in Yemen with the Houthis for nearly nine years.
According to the sources, Saudi Arabia is attempting to advance the Yemen peace process despite the ongoing conflict in Gaza, fearing that it will be derailed. Yemen has been relatively calm for more than a year, thanks to direct peace talks between Saudi and Houthi officials.
The Houthi attacks during the Hamas-Israel conflict have raised their profile in the Iran-aligned camp, which includes Hamas, Lebanon’s Hezbollah, and Iran-backed militias in Iraq.
With tens of thousands of fighters and a massive arsenal of ballistic missiles and armed drones, the Houthis have emerged as a major military force in the Arabian Peninsula.
According to senior Iranian-aligned sources, the Houthi attacks were part of an effort to put pressure on Washington to get Israel to stop its offensive in Gaza, a goal shared by Iran, Saudi Arabia, and other regional countries.
According to one of the sources based in Tehran, Houthi representatives discussed their attacks with Iranian officials during a November meeting in Tehran, agreeing to carry out actions in a “controlled” manner that would help force an end to the Gaza war. The source has been briefed on the situation.
Another source stated that Tehran does not want an “all-out war in the region” because that would risk drawing it in directly.
A spokesperson for the Houthis did not respond to a request for comment. Iran has denied involvement in the attacks. Iranian officials did not respond to an inquiry about the Houthi attacks.
DESTROYER DOWNS DRONES
The US and Britain have condemned the shipping attacks, blaming Iran for its role in supporting the Houthis. Tehran claims that its allies make their own decisions.
On Sunday, three commercial vessels were attacked in international waters in one of the most recent incidents. The Houthis claimed to have fired rockets at two Israeli ships. Israel denied any connection to the ships.
The Carney, a US Navy destroyer, shot down three drones while responding to distress calls from the vessels, which the US military said were connected to 14 different nations.
The Pentagon stated on Monday that Carney took action because a drone was heading in its direction, but it could not determine whether the warship was the intended target.
Sabrina Singh, a Pentagon spokesperson, avoided using language that could imply imminent US retaliation against the Houthis. When asked if the US would retaliate, Singh stated, “If we decide to take action against the Houthis, it will of course be at a time and place of our choosing.”
According to an Iranian diplomat, Tehran and Washington have been exchanging messages about Houthi attacks through intermediaries since the beginning of the Hamas-Israel war. Both messages, according to the diplomat who was involved in the exchange, called for restraint.
Iran denied any involvement in attacks or actions against US forces on Tuesday.