US maintains direct contacts with Houthis, Vance says

The US administration is maintaining direct contacts with Yemen's Ansar Allah movement (Houthi rebels), also known as the Houthis, after the group took control of the strategic Perim Island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, US Vice President JD Vance said.

According to Report, Vance made the remarks to journalists at Andrews military base.

He said the United States remained in constant contact with the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and other interested parties in the region and was paying particular attention to the issue.

Vance added that Washington was also maintaining direct dialogue with the Houthis and believed the situation remained under control, although developments were unfolding rapidly.

He said the United States would continue monitoring the situation.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump said the Yemeni Houthis had contacted the US side and stated that they did not want to fight the United States.

The situation in Yemen escalated sharply in early September when the Houthis launched an offensive in the southwest of the country.

At the same time, the group began carrying out missile and drone strikes on coastal areas of the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.