Image Credentials: Image Title: US and Yemen’s Houthis Reach Ceasefire Agreement to Protect Red Sea Shipping Source: (Grok, xAI) Date: May 2025 Attribution: Created by AI-generated imagery (Grok, xAI), and it does not depict a real-world scene.
By Staff Writer with Agencies, Middle East Newsdesk
May 7, 2025
Muscat/Sanaa/Washington — A ceasefire agreement has been reached between the United States and Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, signaling a potential de-escalation in the Red Sea region after months of dangerous confrontations that threatened global shipping routes.
The truce was brokered by Oman, a frequent regional mediator, and comes amid mounting international pressure to restore stability to one of the world’s most vital maritime arteries. Under the terms of the agreement, “neither side will target the other,” said Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, adding that both parties had agreed to ensure the “freedom of navigation and the smooth flow of international commercial shipping” in the Red Sea.
The announcement follows US President Donald Trump’s declaration that American forces would halt strikes on the Houthis, after the Yemeni group pledged to stop attacking vessels traversing the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
“They said please don’t bomb us anymore and we’re not going to attack your ships,” Trump said during a press appearance with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, signaling an apparent olive branch from the Houthis.
MARCH 15: Trump admin strikes on the Houthis will end their attacks on international shipping.
52 days later, the Houthis have tapped out.
NOW: Omani FM announces a ceasefire agreement between United States and Houthis – the Houthis won’t target US ships in the Red Sea. https://t.co/NClHKZLCkg pic.twitter.com/uOnR9hDZJp
— Gabriel Noronha (@GLNoronha) May 6, 2025
An Escalating Conflict
Since late 2023, the Houthis have launched hundreds of drone and missile attacks on commercial and military ships, claiming solidarity with Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas war. The attacks brought international trade in the region to a near-halt and triggered U.S. and allied retaliatory strikes on Yemeni territory.
The Pentagon recently reported that over 1,000 targets linked to the Houthis had been struck since mid-March. These strikes aimed to neutralize launch sites and supply depots for the group’s missile and drone operations.
Tensions flared again over the weekend when a Houthi missile reportedly landed near Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, prompting Israeli airstrikes on Yemen’s Hodeidah port and Sanaa airport. A second wave of Israeli attacks followed just days later.
Despite this, the Houthis’ latest pledge to cease attacks represents the first sign of possible diplomatic movement in a standoff that has endangered shipping lanes and risked igniting a broader regional war.
International Reaction and Outlook
The ceasefire has been cautiously welcomed by international observers and shipping industry leaders, many of whom have called for greater security guarantees in the Red Sea. The region is a critical chokepoint for global trade, with nearly 12% of the world’s maritime commerce passing through the Suez Canal.
While President Trump and Omani officials have framed the agreement as a breakthrough, questions remain about its durability. No formal terms have been published, and Houthi leaders have not yet issued a comprehensive public statement confirming the deal’s scope or duration.
Still, the announcement marks a dramatic shift in tone after more than a year of tit-for-tat violence between the US-led coalition and the Houthi movement.
As the ceasefire takes effect, the international community will be watching closely to see whether both sides honor their commitments — and whether this agreement can pave the way toward broader peace efforts in war-torn Yemen.