US, Yemen rebels agree ceasefire
The United States and Yemen’s Huthi rebels have reached a ceasefire agreement designed to de-escalate tensions and ensure the safety of maritime routes in the Red Sea, where commercial vessels have been repeatedly targeted in recent months. Mediators announced the deal on Tuesday, calling it a step toward restoring freedom of navigation in a region vital to international shipping.
The ceasefire follows an extended period of conflict that saw the Iran-backed Huthis launch multiple attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes and fire missiles toward Israel, drawing U.S. military retaliation. President Donald Trump declared that the United State. would now halt its air campaign against the Huthis after the group pledged to stop harassing vessels. Though Trump made no direct reference to the recent hostilities involving Israel, the ceasefire arrives amid growing regional unrest tied to the war in Gaza.
Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, who played a key role in brokering the agreement, said recent diplomatic efforts had yielded a mutual commitment to de-escalation. “Following discussions and contacts with the aim of reducing tensions, both sides have agreed to a ceasefire,” Albusaidi stated. “Neither side will target the other, ensuring the free and secure flow of international shipping in the Red Sea.”
At the White House, Trump hailed the agreement as a result of decisive U.S. military pressure. “The Huthis have capitulated,” he said, citing a seven-week bombing campaign that, according to Huthi sources, resulted in 300 fatalities. “They don’t want to fight anymore. And we will honour that.”
Despite the announcement, Huthi leaders remain combative in tone regarding their position on Israel. Mahdi al-Mashat, the group’s political chief, did not directly acknowledge the ceasefire but vowed a “painful” retaliation for recent Israeli strikes. Those attacks were in response to a Huthi missile that landed near Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport.
Huthi spokesman Mohammed Abdelsalam echoed the sentiment in an interview with Al-Masirah television. “If the American enemy resumes its attacks, we will resume our strikes,” he warned. He added that the U.S. experience in Yemen served as the “real guarantee” for the ceasefire, referencing the heavy toll of American air raids.
Mashat further emphasized that attacks on Israel would persist. “They will continue and go beyond what the Israeli enemy can withstand,” he said, positioning the Huthis’ military actions as a form of solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.
Since late 2023, the Huthis have targeted both Israel and international shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, citing their support for Palestinians as justification. Although they temporarily paused attacks during a two-month Gaza ceasefire, they resumed threats in March over Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza. That announcement prompted a swift and forceful response from the U.S. military.
The ceasefire was attributed to the heavy toll inflicted by sustained American air raids, which U.S. officials say pressured the Huthis into backing down.
On Tuesday, just hours before the ceasefire was publicized, Israeli airstrikes targeted Sanaa International Airport in Yemen’s rebel-held capital, rendering it inoperable. According to Huthi officials, three people were killed in the attacks. The airport’s director confirmed that all flights had been suspended due to “severe damage.” The Israeli military confirmed the strike, saying its jets had dismantled “Huthi terrorist infrastructure” and completely disabled the airport. The bombing followed a missile strike from Yemen that landed near Tel Aviv, intensifying the cycle of retaliation.
Residents in Sanaa reported widespread power outages after Israeli forces also struck three electricity substations. “Our children are terrified,” said Umm Abdallah, a 35-year-old resident. “They’re afraid to eat or even use the bathroom because of the constant bombings.”Prior to the strike, Israel had issued warnings for civilians to evacuate the airport and nearby areas. Tensions have continued to mount amid Israeli plans to broaden military operations in Gaza and displace parts of the enclave’s population.
Hans Grundberg, the UN’s special envoy for Yemen, condemned the strikes and described the escalation in Yemen and Israel as “gravely concerning.” Israeli officials have acknowledged targeting Yemen five times since July 2024. Huthi authorities report that 29 people have been killed in those attacks.
Sanaa airport, reopened in 2022 after a six-year blockade by a Saudi-led coalition, had resumed international flights primarily to Jordan through the national carrier Yemenia. Its shutdown marks yet another blow to a country struggling with nearly a decade of civil war and humanitarian crisis. The ceasefire agreement is seen by many as a tentative step toward stability. However, whether it will hold amid ongoing regional conflict and strong rhetoric from both sides remains to be seen.
