Saudi Arabia has turned to China for help in reining in Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group after the militants made rapid advances along the Red Sea coast and around the strategically vital Bab al-Mandeb Strait, according to a Reuters report citing three Iranian sources familiar with the matter.
Following the Saudi appeal, China privately asked Tehran to use its influence over the Houthis to help prevent the conflict from spreading further, the sources said.
The development comes as the Houthis’ recent military advances have increased risks to Saudi oil exports and shipping through the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb, a key maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
China has publicly called for restraint, dialogue and the restoration of safe navigation. However, according to the Iranian sources cited by Reuters, Beijing’s private message to Tehran went further, with China seeking Iranian help to contain the Houthi offensive.
The move also highlights Beijing’s economic stakes in the escalating crisis. China is heavily dependent on energy routes through the region, while Iran remains a major oil supplier to China.
The Saudi appeal comes after Riyadh sought US assistance amid the Houthi escalation; however, US President Donald Trump has not authorised direct US strikes against the Houthis. Washington has provided intelligence-sharing and targeting assistance to Saudi Arabia, according to Reuters.
With the Houthis gaining ground near the Bab al-Mandeb, the latest developments have raised fresh concerns over the security of one of the world’s key shipping and energy corridors.
US Officials Met Iran-Backed Houthis
According to Reuters, US officials met representatives of Yemen’s Houthis in Oman over the weekend, days after the Iran-backed militia seized a strategic stretch of the Red Sea coast in a sweeping offensive.
The meeting, which has not been made public, was held at the US Embassy in Muscat, three of the sources told Reuters on the condition of anonymity. Two sources said that Oman’s government, a longtime regional mediator, helped organise the meeting.