The United States and Yemen’s Houthis have agreed a ceasefire, mediators announced on Tuesday, May 6th, saying the deal would ensure “freedom of navigation” in the Red Sea where the Iran-backed rebels have attacked shipping for months.
The agreement comes after President Donald Trump announced that the United States would end attacks against the Houthis after the rebels agreed to stop harassing ships, though he made no direct mention of recent attacks on ally Israel.
Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said that “following recent discussions and contacts… with the aim of de-escalation, efforts have resulted in a ceasefire agreement between the two sides.”
“Neither side will target the other … ensuring freedom of navigation and the smooth flow of international commercial shipping” in the Red Sea, he added in a statement.
At the White House, Trump said the rebels had “capitulated” after a seven-week U.S. bombing campaign that left 300 dead, according to an AFP tally of Houthi figures.
Trump’s comments came hours after Israeli warplanes knocked the airport in Yemen’s rebel-held capital Sanaa out of action in raids that killed three people, according to the Houthis.
Houthi rebels have been attacking Israel and merchant shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since late 2023, saying they are acting in solidarity with the Palestinians as the Gaza war rages.
