Trump Announces US Ceasefire with Houthis: Oman Mediates Agreement to Halt Red Sea Threats and Yemen Bombing

On May 6, 2025, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced the U.S. would halt its bombing campaign against Yemen's Houthi movement, following a mutual understanding that the Houthis would cease attacks on American vessels in the Red Sea. The Sultanate of Oman confirmed mediating the ceasefire. The agreement aims to de-escalate regional tensions heightened since the Israel-Gaza war in October 2023. While the U.S. and Oman confirmed the ceasefire, the Houthis have not formally endorsed it, and tensions with Israel persist following recent Israeli airstrikes on Yemen.

Trump Declares End to Bombing Campaign

Speaking from the White House during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump said the Houthis had “capitulated” and expressed a desire to end hostilities. “The Houthis have announced to us that they don’t want to fight any more. They just don’t want to fight, and we will honour that, and we will stop the bombings,” Trump stated. He emphasized that the group had agreed to stop targeting U.S. ships, adding, “They said please don’t bomb us any more and we’re not going to attack your ships.”

Trump clarified that the decision was not the result of a formal deal but rather a response to the Houthis’ stated intentions. “We just found out about that. So I think that’s very, very positive … I will accept their word, and we are going to stop the bombing … effective immediately,” he said.

Oman Confirms Ceasefire Agreement

Shortly after Trump’s remarks, Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi confirmed that Muscat had brokered a ceasefire between the United States and the Houthis. In a statement posted on X, al-Busaidi said, “Following recent discussions and contacts conducted by the Sultanate of Oman with the United States and the relevant authorities in Sana’a, in the Republic of Yemen, with the aim of de-escalation, efforts have resulted in a ceasefire agreement between the two sides.”

The Omani statement emphasized that “neither side will target the other, including American vessels, in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait,” and that the agreement aims to ensure “freedom of navigation and the smooth flow of international commercial shipping.”

Houthi Response and Regional Context

While the U.S. and Oman have confirmed the ceasefire, the Houthis have not issued a formal endorsement of the agreement. Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a senior member of the group’s Supreme Political Council, posted on X that Trump’s announcement would be “evaluated on the ground first.” He reiterated that Houthi operations were in support of Gaza and aimed at stopping aggression and facilitating humanitarian aid.

The Houthis began targeting commercial shipping in the Red Sea in late 2023, claiming solidarity with Palestinians amid Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Since then, they have launched dozens of missile and drone attacks, sinking two vessels, seizing another, and killing at least four crew members. These attacks severely disrupted global trade, forcing major shipping companies to reroute vessels around the Cape of Good Hope.

U.S. Military Campaign and Escalation

The U.S. began its air campaign against Houthi targets in March 2025, significantly intensifying operations that had started under the Biden administration. According to U.S. military sources, over 1,000 targets were struck, including infrastructure and personnel linked to Houthi missile and drone capabilities. The campaign was framed as a “freedom of navigation” mission aimed at protecting international shipping lanes.

The strikes, however, drew criticism after reports emerged of civilian casualties, including the deaths of 68 African migrants in a U.S. airstrike on a detention center in northwest Yemen. The United Nations’ special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, described the escalation as “grave” in an already volatile regional context.

Israeli Strikes and Continued Tensions

The ceasefire announcement came just hours after Israel launched a series of airstrikes on Yemen, targeting the airport in Sanaa and port facilities in Hodeidah. The Israeli military claimed the strikes were in retaliation for a Houthi missile that landed near Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday. The attack reportedly disabled Sanaa’s main airport and destroyed civilian infrastructure, including power facilities and a cement factory.

Despite the U.S.-Houthi ceasefire, tensions between the Houthis and Israel remain high. The U.S. State Department clarified that the ceasefire agreement pertains specifically to Houthi operations affecting U.S. interests in the Red Sea and does not extend to the group’s conflict with Israel.

Diplomatic Mediation and Possible Iranian Role

Oman’s role as a mediator was central to the ceasefire. The Gulf nation has long maintained open channels with both the United States and Iran, and has previously facilitated backchannel diplomacy. Al Jazeera’s Ali Hashem reported that it is “possible” Iran played a role in persuading the Houthis to de-escalate, potentially as part of broader negotiations with the U.S. over nuclear sanctions and regional stability.

While no direct link has been confirmed, the timing of the ceasefire coincides with reported progress in U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, suggesting a possible alignment of diplomatic incentives.

Uncertain Future

Although the ceasefire marks a pause in hostilities between the U.S. and the Houthis, the situation remains fluid. The Houthis’ conditional response and ongoing conflict with Israel indicate that the broader regional crisis is far from resolved. For now, the agreement offers a reprieve for commercial shipping in the Red Sea and a potential opening for further diplomatic engagement.

References

• Trump says bombing of Yemen to stop as Oman confirms US-Houthi ceasefire
• Oman says it mediated a ceasefire between U.S., Yemen's Houthis
• US agrees ceasefire with Houthis in Yemen after dozens killed in airstrikes
• Trump announces US to stop bombing Yemen, says Houthis won't attack more American ships
• Trump says US to stop attacking Houthis in Yemen as group has 'capitulated'