US Warns Houthis Through Security Channels: We Are Not Negotiating with You
Washington warned the Houthis through security channels and said it was not negotiating with the group. The Houthis’ outreach came after advances along Yemen’s western coast overlooking the Bab al-Mandab Strait; the gains pose a fresh threat to international shipping. In a UN Security Council session, the US called on the Houthis to halt their advance, withdraw from seized territory and stop launching attacks.
Why it matters: This matters for the maritime chokepoints theme because the Houthi advance threatens the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which carries 12% of global trade.