On May 6, 2025, President Donald Trump announced the cessation of U.S. airstrikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels, following a ceasefire agreement brokered by Oman. The Houthis, aligned with Iran, pledged to halt attacks on American vessels in strategic waterways, including the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait. In return, the U.S. agreed to stop its bombing campaign, which had intensified in recent months.
President Trump stated, “The Houthis have announced to us that they don’t want to fight any more. They just don’t want to fight, and we will honour that, and we will stop the bombings.” This declaration came during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the White House.
Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi confirmed the agreement, emphasizing that both parties have committed to refraining from targeting each other, including U.S. vessels, to ensure the free flow of international commercial shipping.
However, the ceasefire does not address the Houthis’ ongoing hostilities with Israel. Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a member of the Houthis’ Supreme Political Council, indicated that their operations in support of Gaza would continue, stating, “Yemen operations were and still are a support for Gaza to stop the aggression and bring in aid.”
The U.S. State Department clarified that the agreement pertains solely to Houthi operations along Yemen’s coast, specifically concerning U.S. shipping, and does not extend to the conflict between Israel and the Houthis.
The announcement coincided with Israeli airstrikes on Yemen’s Sanaa International Airport and the port city of Hodeidah, following a Houthi missile attack near Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport. These developments underscore the complex and multifaceted nature of the conflict in the region.
The ceasefire marks a significant shift in U.S. policy, potentially easing tensions in the Red Sea region. However, the continuation of hostilities between the Houthis and Israel suggests that broader regional stability remains elusive.
Source; Al Jazeera
