Houthis Confirm Discussions With White House
In a development that underscores the shifting dynamics of Middle Eastern power politics, Yemen’s Houthi insurgents announced Wednesday that they have reached a ceasefire agreement with the United States, temporarily halting their attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea. In return, the U.S. has agreed to pause airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen — a tactical détente brokered via Oman that has implications well beyond maritime security.
Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdul-Salam was quick to frame the deal as a pause in hostilities, not a pivot in principle. “The support of the Yemeni nation for Gaza will expand in a better way,” he said, distancing the agreement from the Houthi-aligned narrative of resistance against Israel.
Yet the announcement came just days after a Houthi missile detonated near Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, breaching U.S.-Israeli air defenses. That direct strike prompted heavy retaliatory damage from both the U.S. and Israel, including a pointed Israeli airstrike on Sanaa International Airport — a rare escalation that signaled a limit to international patience with the Iran-backed militants.
Despite the fiery rhetoric, Abdul-Salam insisted the Houthis remain ideologically unmoved. “This agreement was for halting U.S. aggression against Yemen in exchange for halting attacks on U.S. ships,” he clarified, emphasizing that the ceasefire does not extend to Israeli targets.
President Donald Trump, speaking from the Oval Office Tuesday, took a victory lap. “The Houthis don’t want to fight anymore,” he told reporters. “They have capitulated... they say they will not be blowing up ships anymore, and that’s the purpose of what we were doing.”
Trump also reiterated his administration’s position that Iran is directly accountable for Houthi aggression. “Every shot fired by the Houthis will be looked upon… as being a shot fired from the weapons and leadership of IRAN,” Trump warned last month. “IRAN will be held responsible, and suffer the consequences, and those consequences will be dire!”
The strong rhetoric is part of a broader Trump strategy to increase deterrence and accountability for Iranian proxy forces across the region. With the Houthis bruised by months of U.S. airstrikes, and their patrons in Tehran suddenly distancing themselves from their attacks, the messaging appears to have found its mark.
The ceasefire was brokered by Oman, a quiet but pivotal player in regional diplomacy. Long trusted as a neutral channel between Iran and the U.S., Oman has increasingly taken on a role in attempting to de-escalate regional flashpoints. On Tuesday, Oman’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that the agreement was designed to protect “freedom of navigation and the smooth flow of international commercial shipping” — notably omitting any mention of Israel or Gaza.
Observers at the Jerusalem Post noted that Oman’s involvement signals a wider strategy. “Oman wanted to help end this conflict because it is a key player in the Iran-US talks,” the outlet wrote, pointing out Muscat’s interest in showcasing its diplomatic value to both Washington and Tehran.
In the wake of the Ben Gurion missile attack, Iran’s Foreign Ministry issued a carefully worded denial of involvement, claiming the Houthi actions stem from “solidarity” with Gaza and were not ordered by Tehran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected that narrative, vowing retaliation against both the Houthis and their backers in Iran “at a time and place of our choosing.”