The American envoy to Yemen, Tim Lenderking, and the Djibouti ambassador to Washington, held discussions with Mohammed Siad Douala, about the security and stability of the Red Sea in light of the Houthi group’s continued naval attacks on shipping ships and threatening international navigation for more than a year.

A statement from the US State Department’s Office in the Near East stated that Lenderking met with the Djiboutian Ambassador to the United States of America, Mohamed Siad Douala, and the two parties discussed continuous and close coordination between the two countries to ensure stability, security and prosperity in the Red Sea and the broader region.

The statement added that King had just returned from a tour to the region that included Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman, during which he met with Yemeni, Saudi and Omani officials and ambassadors of permanent member states, and focused on the need to stop the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.

During which, King stressed the necessary steps to confront Houthi attacks, including identifying and intercepting illicit goods and weapons coming from Iran and deterring Houthi cooperation with regional and international parties, which he described as “malicious,” according to a statement by the US State Department.

Observers said that Djibouti overlooks the other side of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, where the Houthi group’s operations have been concentrated for more than a year on international cargo ships, according to the Yemen Window website.

Earlier, American studies institutes and media accused Djibouti of not being neutral in the Red Sea crisis and of its association with malicious actors such as Iran and the Houthis. It also faced allegations of involvement in various activities on the black market, including money laundering, illicit financing, oil smuggling, and trafficking. With weapons.