Trump Halts U.S. Airstrikes on Houthis After Ceasefire Deal Brokered by Oman

In a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy, President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that American forces will immediately halt airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, following a ceasefire agreement brokered by Oman.

The Iran-backed Houthis have reportedly pledged to stop targeting vital shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait, which have been the focus of escalating tensions since the Gaza conflict erupted in late 2023.

Speaking from the Oval Office during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump said, “They said please don’t bomb us anymore and we’re not going to attack your ships. And I will accept their word.“

The move marks a turning point in the U.S. military’s Operation Rough Rider, which had seen more than 1,000 Houthi targets struck since it began on March 15.

Oman confirmed that it played a central role in mediating the ceasefire, facilitating a mutual agreement between the Houthis and the United States.

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Under the terms, both parties have committed to cease hostilities against each other — a clause that includes refraining from attacks on U.S. vessels navigating the Red Sea and surrounding maritime zones.

While the Omani statement did not clarify whether the Houthis would also halt attacks on Israel, the development reflects a notable shift in the group’s tactics, which had escalated dramatically after the start of Israel’s offensive against Hamas in Gaza on October 7, 2023.

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The Houthis, a Yemeni rebel group with backing from Iran, have been launching missiles and drones targeting both Israeli assets and commercial ships in the Red Sea. These attacks have disrupted a crucial global trade route — through which approximately 15% of the world’s maritime traffic flows.

In response, the U.S. under Trump significantly escalated its military response earlier this year, intensifying airstrikes aimed at neutralizing the Houthis’ capabilities. According to U.S. defense sources, the campaign has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Houthi fighters and multiple key commanders.

Tensions surged further in recent days when a Houthi missile landed near Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, prompting retaliatory Israeli airstrikes on Houthi-controlled regions, including the key port city of Hodeidah and the capital’s Sanaa Airport. Tuesday’s Israeli airstrike marked the second in as many days targeting Yemen.

Although President Trump has decided to trust the Houthis’ pledge, it remains unclear whether traditional U.S. allies like the United Kingdom will join in halting their own military campaigns. The British government has been actively involved in strikes on Houthi positions under the previous Biden administration.

While the ceasefire agreement may reduce immediate tensions in the Red Sea, its long-term success hinges on continued diplomatic engagement and restraint from both parties. Analysts remain cautious, as the Houthis’ past actions suggest that any pause in violence may be temporary without a broader resolution to the Gaza conflict and wider regional hostilities.