Houthis told EU they have no intention to attack European ships: Report

Houthis told EU they have no intention to attack European ships: Report

Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 09/25/2026 - 16:29 Letter marks a pattern for the Houthis after President Donald Trump said the group doesn't want to fight the US Supporters of the Houthi authorities march with placards during a protest against the Saudi intervention in Yemen and against the kingdom's recent accusation that the Houthis fired at the holy city of Mecca, in Yemen's western Red Sea city of Hodeida, on 18 September 2026 (Zayed Al-Waqidi/AFP) Off

Yemen’s Houthis told the European Union they have no intention of targeting European vessels as the group moves to cement its control over the Red Sea.

The Houthis sent a letter to the EU’s foreign policy and security arm to reassure the body after they captured the strategic Red Sea port city of Mocha and the Arabian Gulf side of the Bab al-Mandeb chokepoint in a lightning offensive earlier this month, the Financial Times reported.

The letter would mark a pattern for the Houthis trying to isolate Saudi Arabia by keeping other countries out of a conflict.

The Houthis say that their blockade in the Red Sea only applies to Saudi Arabia and its ally, Yemen’s internationally recognised government.

Saudi Arabia sought US military assistance when the Houthis made their advance through the Red Sea, but none was forthcoming.

“The Houthis called us, and they don't want to fight with us,” US President Donald Trump said earlier this month. Reuters also reported that the US held a meeting with Houthi officials brokered by Oman. 

The Houthis' message to the EU underscores how critical the waterway is to Europe. Ahead of the US’s bombing campaign against the Houthis in 2025, US Vice President JD Vance was revealed to have lamented that attacking the Houthis was equivalent to “bailing out Europe”.

The Red Sea is a critical corridor for Gulf energy shipments to Europe and cargo shipments from East Asia. Roughly one-third of global container ship traffic passed through the Red Sea before the conflict in the Middle East. 

'Few cards to play': Saudi Arabia faces limited options against Houthis with allies out Read More ��

Europe was particularly exposed to attacks on Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline, which the kingdom said emanated from Iraqi militias.

Saudi Arabia’s energy company, Aramco, told European refineries after a recent attack that it would cancel crude shipments in October, although the kingdom has since restarted the pipeline, Reuters reported.

In addition to seeking military support from the US, Saudi Arabia sought backing from its new defence partners, Pakistan and Turkey, under the Mecca Pact. While Pakistan has some troops and weapons systems stationed in Saudi Arabia, neither Pakistan nor Turkey have entered the conflict in Yemen.

European countries have been stepping up support. Greece already operates a Patriot air defence system at the Red Sea port of Yanbu.

On Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron said he would send "military means" to help shield the Yanbu oil terminal from Houthi attacks.

“We are going to send military resources, that is to say, soldiers, radar systems and defence systems, to protect this site,” but “not to get us involved in any conflicts,” Macron told French media.

Inside Yemen News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0