A senior U.S. delegation arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Yemen and the recent escalation between Israel and Houthi rebels, according to three U.S. officials.
Saudi Arabia has grown increasingly concerned about the rising tensions and the potential of being drawn into renewed conflict in Yemen.
Israeli fighter jets conducted an airstrike in Yemen 10 days ago, retaliating for a Houthi drone attack on Tel Aviv. This marked the first direct Israeli attack on Yemen, following over 200 Houthi attacks on Israeli targets since October 7, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
The U.S. delegation, led by Brett McGurk, the White House's top Middle East adviser, includes Barbara Leaf, the State Department's top Middle East diplomat; Tim Lendeking, the U.S. envoy for Yemen; and Dan Shapiro, the Pentagon's top Middle East official. A source familiar with the talks mentioned ongoing bilateral cooperation between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia to implement a political process and enhance stability in Yemen and the Red Sea.
The U.S. delegation’s visit coincides with rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, which threaten to escalate into a broader regional conflict. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, during a press conference in the Philippines, stated that the U.S. will assist Israel in defending itself if attacked by Hezbollah. He emphasized the U.S. preference for diplomatic resolutions and expressed concern about the potential for all-out war on Israel’s northern border, though he does not believe such a conflict is inevitable.
Both the White House and Saudi Arabia's embassy in Washington declined to comment on the talks.
