Saudi foreign minister lands in Washington for talks with U.S. secretary
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Washington to meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio amid rising tensions with Yemen's Houthi rebels.
Prince Faisal bin Farhan touched down in the U.S. capital on Monday for a meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The two officials will review bilateral relations and discuss major regional and global issues. Their talks come as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has recently asked Washington for direct military assistance against the Iran-backed Houthis, a request the United States has so far declined to fulfill with strikes, though it will provide intelligence and targeting help.
Why it matters
The visit signals ongoing U.S.-Saudi coordination on the Yemen conflict and broader Middle-East security.
How this story developed
- Sep 11 Renewed Yemen fighting forces over 46,000 people from their homes
- Sep 18 Since the earlier report of 86,000 displaced, the UN now says over 112,000 have been forced from their homes.
- Sep 19 Washington met Houthi envoys in Oman and secured assurances that American vessels would not be targeted.
- Sep 19 The Saudi Directorate of Civil Defence said the danger has passed in Riyadh and al‑Kharj and urged residents to continue following its instructions and avoid gathering or filming.
- Sep 19 The Houthis announced new missile and drone strikes on Riyadh and Yanbu.
- Sep 19 Saudi officials confirmed that Yemen's Houthi forces attempted a ballistic missile strike on Riyadh, which was intercepted, and also failed to hit targets in Yanbu, Taif, Baysh and Farasan.
- Sep 22 The United States declined to conduct direct kinetic strikes against the Houthis.
- Sep 22 UN agencies warned that displacement could rise to over 230,000 if the fighting continues.
- Sep 24 The Houthis seized the port city of Mocha and nearby Bab al‑Mandab positions.
- Sep 25 Trump publicly voiced support for Saudi self‑reliance against Houthi attacks.
- Sep 26 UN Security Council issued a condemnation of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
- Sep 27 Government forces launched intensified air and ground attacks in Taiz province.
- Sep 27 France announced a military mission to Saudi Arabia.
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