Saudi Foreign Minister Arrives in Washington for High-Stakes Talks With Marco Rubio Amid Escalating Yemen Conflict

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has traveled to Washington to hold discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as the ongoing war in Yemen places mounting pressure on the kingdom. According to the Saudi Press Agency, the two leaders are set to address bilateral relations alongside crucial regional and international developments.

The kingdom faces persistent attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen, which have severely disrupted both oil production and shipping routes in the Red Sea. A recent Houthi assault on Saturday specifically targeted Riyadh. Speaking at the UN General Assembly on the same day, Prince Faisal urged global powers to increase their efforts in safeguarding international shipping lanes. He stated that the international community has failed to assume its responsibilities in confronting threats to international peace and security, emphasizing the necessity of a comprehensive agreement to bring an end to the Yemen war.

Houthi forces have recently achieved significant territorial gains, seizing control of Yemen's entire western coast and securing unprecedented access to the Bab Al Mandeb strait. Recent battles have focused on the strategic Kahboub mountain range near Taiz, marking the most intense fighting in the nation since the de facto truce and period of relative calm that began in 2022. Although a state of no-war, no-peace followed, peace talks between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis collapsed after the group initiated attacks on ships in the Red Sea, declaring solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza against Israel's bombardment.

While Saudi authorities have remained reserved regarding the full extent of the damage caused by these Houthi assaults, reports confirm that dozens of civilians have sustained injuries and at least one resident has been killed in recent strikes. Demonstrating the domestic impact, schools in Riyadh unexpectedly shifted classes online for the remainder of the week on Saturday, though neither Saudi authorities nor the schools provided an official explanation, and the Ministry of Education has not issued public comments.

Reports from Axios and CBS, citing US sources, indicate that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman previously requested direct US military involvement in Yemen, a proposal Washington declined while offering intelligence and support instead. Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump stated that America had engaged in discussions with the Houthis, omitting whether the communication was direct or indirect, and remarked that they do not want to fight the US Sources informed The National that the Houthis communicated through mediators that they would refrain from targeting American vessels.