{
  "id": 8035753,
  "title": "Houthis 'assured' US they would not attack American ships in Bab Al Mandeb, Yemeni sources say",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/houthis-assured-us-they-would-not-attack-american-ships-in-bab-al-8035753",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-17T13:28:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/09/17/houthis-assured-us-they-would-not-attack-american-ships-in-bab-al-mandeb-yemeni-sources-say/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Yemeni Houthi rebels have assured US officials that they will not attack American ships in the Bab Al Mandeb strait, according to sources in Sanaa. This comes after US Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. stated that Washington has been engaged in \"direct conversations\" with the Houthis to address the situation following the group's seizure of the western coast of Yemen. The Houthis have been communicating with the US through Oman, who have served as mediators in indirect talks. Despite previous threats to attack US ships, the rebels have reportedly committed to a truce agreement with the US, which requires them to refrain from targeting American vessels in the Red Sea and those passing through the Bab Al Mandeb strait. The Houthis' takeover of Yemen's western coast has given them increased access to allies in the Horn of Africa and expanded their smuggling networks, while also positioning them to further Tehran's interests in the region.",
  "summary": "Yemen's Houthi rebels have been communicating with US officials to assure Washington that their takeover of the Red Sea coast overlooking the Bab Al Mandeb strait will not lead to attacks on American ships, sources in Sanaa told The National on Thursday. The news comes days after US Vice President JD Vance said that Washington has been engaged in “direct conversations” with the Houthis and is “on…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "Yemeni forces repel Houthi attack on Al-Anin front west of Taiz",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/yemeni-forces-repel-houthi-attack-on-al-anin-front-west-of-taiz",
        "published": "2026-09-17T11:45:35.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "Exclusive-China presses Iran to help rein in Houthis after Saudi appeal, sources say",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/exclusive-china-presses-iran-to-help-rein-in-houthis-after-saudi",
        "published": "2026-09-17T12:46:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "Houthis 'assured' US they would not attack American ships in Bab Al Mandeb, Yemeni sources say",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/houthis-assured-us-they-would-not-attack-american-ships-in-bab-al",
        "published": "2026-09-17T13:28:12.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "Yemeni government says Houthis suffering heavy blows",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/yemeni-government-says-houthis-suffering-heavy-blows",
        "published": "2026-09-17T15:57:09.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}