By Peter Omopo
The United States and Yemen’s Huthi rebels have reached a ceasefire agreement aimed at restoring safe navigation in the Red Sea, following months of rebel attacks on commercial shipping, mediators announced on Tuesday.
The breakthrough came after diplomatic efforts spearheaded by Oman, whose Foreign Minister, Badr Albusaidi, confirmed that “recent discussions and contacts… with the aim of de-escalation” had culminated in a truce between the two sides.
“Neither side will target the other… ensuring freedom of navigation and the smooth flow of international commercial shipping,” Albusaidi said in a statement, signaling an end to a prolonged maritime security crisis in the vital shipping corridor.
At the White House, President Donald Trump stated that the Huthis had “capitulated” following a seven-week U.S. military campaign that reportedly left over 300 people dead, citing Huthi casualty figures. He added that Washington would cease its airstrikes in response to the rebels’ pledge to halt attacks on vessels.
“The Huthis have announced… that they don’t want to fight anymore. They just don’t want to fight,” Trump said. “They say they will not be blowing up ships anymore, and that’s the purpose of what we were doing.”
However, tensions remain high. While the Huthi political leadership has not officially commented on the deal, rebel spokesman Mohammed Abdelsalam warned on Al-Masirah TV that any renewed U.S. aggression would be met with retaliation. “If the American enemy resumes its attacks, we will resume our strikes,” he said, referring to the U.S. military campaign that has targeted over 1,000 sites in Yemen since March.
Despite the ceasefire, Huthi leader Mahdi al-Mashat vowed continued strikes against Israel, promising that attacks would go “beyond what the Israeli enemy can withstand,” in apparent retaliation for deadly Israeli airstrikes.
The Huthis have been targeting Israel and international vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since late 2023, citing solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing war in Gaza. Although their maritime attacks briefly paused during a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict, they resumed in March over Israel’s continued blockade of aid to the enclave.
The agreement raises hopes for easing regional tensions, but analysts warn that any provocation could unravel the fragile truce.
