US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking has said the United States’ designation of the Houthis as a terrorist group puts “additional pressure” on the group that may discourage attacks on ships in the Red Sea, but ultimately a diplomatic solution will have to be found in Yemen, Reuters reports.

The Houthi attacks are undermining progress in the peace process in the broader Yemeni conflict, Lenderking said after holding meetings in Saudi Arabia and Oman.

“We favour a diplomatic solution, we know that there is no military solution,” he said.

Saudi Arabia mediating between the Houthis and the internationally recognised Yemeni government “gives us some hope that we can use this moment to get beyond current tensions”, he added.