President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the United States will stop bombing Houthi rebels in Yemen after the group agreed to stop attacking shipping lanes in the Red Sea and nearby waters.
Speaking from the Oval Office with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump said the Houthis had told the U.S. they “don’t want to fight anymore.”
“We will honor that, and we will stop the bombings,” Trump said. A defense official confirmed to CNN that the U.S. military was ordered on Monday night to halt strikes against the Houthis.
Operation Rough Rider, the U.S. military campaign launched on March 15 in response to Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, involved more than 1,000 airstrikes and resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Houthi fighters, according to U.S. defense officials.
The campaign has also resulted in significant civilian casualties. A U.S. strike on a detention center for African nationals in Saada killed at least 68 people, while a separate raid on the Ras Isa fuel port left at least 80 dead and 150 injured.
The ceasefire deal between the U.S. and Houthis was brokered by Oman. Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said talks between the U.S. and Houthi officials in Sana’a led to the agreement.
“[I am] pleased to reiterate that today’s news about the situation in the Red Sea means that diplomatic efforts have led to the end to the conflict between the US and Ansar Allah in Yemen. They will no longer target each other, ensuring freedom of navigation for international commercial shipping in the Red Sea,” Albusaidi wrote on X.
Pleased to reiterate that todays news about the situation in the Red Sea means that diplomatic efforts have lead to the end to the conflict between the US and Ansar Allah in Yemen. They will no longer target each other, ensuring freedom of navigation for international commercial…
— Badr Albusaidi – بدر البوسعيدي (@badralbusaidi) May 6, 2025
Despite the ceasefire with the U.S., Houthi leaders said they will keep attacking Israel as the truce only applies to U.S. forces.
Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Houthi Supreme Political Council, warned Israelis to stay in shelters. “Your government will not be able to protect you,” he said on Houthi-run Al Masirah TV.
On Sunday, a Houthi missile hit near Israel’s main airport. In response, Israel launched airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.
