According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and the Critical Threats Project (CTP) at the American Enterprise Institute, diplomatic and military maneuvers are shifting across the Middle East as Houthi forces pursue assurances with the United States while simultaneously striking infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and regional militias negotiate disarmament terms in Iraq. These developments follow strategic territorial shifts by the Houthis along Yemen’s Red Sea coast.
US-Houthi Diplomatic Talks and Regional Strategy
Unspecified sources told Reuters on September 16, 2026, that United States officials met with Houthi representatives, including primary spokesperson and diplomat Mohammad Abdulsalam, in Muscat, Oman, on September 13. According to two of those sources, the Houthis claimed during the meeting that the group has no intention to target US vessels and remains committed to the May 2025 US-Houthi ceasefire. The US government has not confirmed the meeting.
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US President Donald Trump previously told reporters on September 12, 2026, that the Houthis had contacted the United States to clarify that they do not seek a conflict with Washington. Trump characterized the ongoing war in Yemen and Saudi Arabia as a limited and contained conflict. These diplomatic engagements coincide with concurrent Saudi efforts to secure international support for military operations against the Houthis.
Did you know? The Houthis captured key Yemeni government-controlled ports on the Red Sea coast, the Hanish Islands, and Perim Island between September 9 and 11, 2026, establishing themselves as the sole de facto political authority on Yemen’s Red Sea coast.
Ballistic Missile and Drone Attacks in Saudi Arabia
The Houthis announced on September 16, 2026, that their forces conducted ballistic missile and drone attacks targeting military and oil infrastructure sites in western Saudi Arabia. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea stated that the group launched attacks targeting the Saudi Aramco oil refinery in Yanbu, located approximately 900 kilometers northwest of the Saudi Arabia-Yemen border. Sarea also claimed that Houthi forces fired ballistic missiles targeting the King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait.
According to the Saudi Coalition Joint Forces Command, Saudi air defenses intercepted a Houthi drone in Saudi airspace near Mecca on September 15, 2026, before it entered the city’s restricted airspace. The Saudi government condemned the incident, designating any attack on Mecca as a red line due to its religious significance. The Houthis denied the Saudi claim, while Iranian media characterized the event as a Saudi false flag operation.
Iraqi Militia Disarmament Agreements
The Shia Coordination Framework reportedly negotiated a three-phase disarmament agreement with some Iranian-backed Iraqi militias, according to Saudi-owned media reports on September 15, 2026. The draft agreement allows militias to keep their weapons under conditional rules and appears to meet demands for the expulsion of Turkish forces from Iraq.
Iranian Domestic and Foreign Diplomatic Engagements
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Houthis discuss with US officials in Oman?
According to Reuters sources, Houthi representatives told US officials on September 13, 2026, that the group does not intend to target US vessels and remains committed to the May 2025 US-Houthi ceasefire.
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Why are the Houthis attacking Saudi oil infrastructure?
The Houthis have targeted Saudi oil sites to maximize political and economic costs, demanding an end to Saudi military activity, the lifting of blockades on Houthi-controlled territory, and war reparations.
What is the status of the Iraqi militia disarmament talks?
The Shia Coordination Framework reportedly negotiated a three-phase agreement allowing certain Iraqi militias to integrate fighters into the Popular Mobilization Forces while retaining access to their weapons under specific non-use conditions.
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