U.S. Reaffirms Support for Yemen’s Government Against “Houthi Aggression”

The United States has reaffirmed its support for the internationally recognized government of Yemen in the war against the Iran-backed Houthis. The top U.S. diplomat for Yemen, Neil Hop, held a phone call with Yemeni Foreign Minister Afrah al-Zouba, according to a statement from the U.S. embassy in Yemen.

“The United States of America stands in solidarity with the government of Yemen and its people against the aggression of the Iran-backed Houthis,” the embassy quoted Hop as saying in a post on X. The statement comes after days of battlefield advances that drove pro-government fighters from Yemen’s entire Red Sea coast.

Last week the Houthis took effective control of the entire Yemeni Red Sea coastline — including the historic port of Mokha, Perim Island in Bab al-Mandeb and the Hanish Islands — giving Iran new strategic leverage in the war with the U.S. and threatening Saudi oil exports rerouted from the Strait of Hormuz.

The declared support comes at a delicate moment: Washington has told Riyadh it will not get directly involved militarily against the Houthis, while U.S. Vice President Vance has admitted the U.S. has spoken directly with the Yemeni group about de-escalation in Yemen.

Source: Al Jazeera