Houthis and U.S. Reach Limited Ceasefire, Excluding Israel
Sanaa, Yemen – May 7, 2025 – A senior official from Yemen’s Houthi movement has denied U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that the group “capitulated” in a new ceasefire arrangement. Speaking to Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV, chief negotiator Mohammed Abdul Salam said it was the United States that backed down, not the Houthis.
“The American position changed, but ours remains the same,” Abdul Salam said. The statement follows reports that the United States and the Houthis agreed to stop targeting each other, a deal brokered by Oman to reduce hostilities after weeks of escalated attacks in the Red Sea.
Agreement Does Not Include Israel
Abdul Salam made clear the ceasefire does not extend to Israel. “The agreement does not include Israel in any way, shape or form,” he told Reuters. He reaffirmed the Houthis’ continued support for Palestinians in Gaza, emphasizing that their operations related to the Israel-Hamas conflict would continue.
Israeli military forces have responded with air strikes in Yemen, targeting what it described as Houthi “terrorist infrastructure.” On Monday, air raids struck the Red Sea port of Hudaydah, reportedly killing four people. On Tuesday, Israeli jets hit Sanaa International Airport and several power stations, destroying aircraft, the departures hall, and a military base, with three fatalities reported.
Background on Houthi Activity and U.S. Response
The Houthis, who control much of northwestern Yemen, have been engaged in missile, drone, and small-boat attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November 2023. Although they claim to target vessels linked to Israel, the U.S., or the U.K., many of these attacks have indiscriminately affected commercial traffic.
Despite the presence of Western naval forces, the Houthis sank two vessels, seized another, and killed four crew members. In response, U.S. airstrikes, ordered first by President Joe Biden and intensified in March by Trump, targeted more than 800 military sites in Yemen, reportedly killing hundreds of Houthi fighters and leaders.
The Houthis dispute the casualty figures, stating most victims have been civilians.
Trump Announces Halt to Bombing Campaign
At a press briefing on Tuesday, President Trump claimed the Houthis had expressed a desire to cease hostilities. “They say they will not be blowing up ships anymore,” he stated, adding that the U.S. would stop bombing in return. “They don’t want to fight, and we will honor that.”
Trump had earlier threatened to “completely annihilate” the group if attacks continued. However, the new agreement, as outlined by Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, stipulates that neither the U.S. nor the Houthis will target each other in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Israel-Houthi Hostilities Continue
Despite the ceasefire with the U.S., Israel and the Houthis remain in active conflict. On Sunday, a Houthi missile landed near Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, injuring six. Israel responded with two days of air strikes. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, “Whoever attacks the State of Israel will pay the price.”
Since July 2024, Israel has carried out multiple retaliatory operations against the Houthis, citing ongoing missile and drone launches from Yemen. Most of the projectiles have been intercepted, but the frequency of the attacks has prompted continued Israeli air raids.
