President Donald Trump announced a dramatic halt to U.S. military strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen on Tuesday. He cited a message from the Iran-backed group that they "don’t want to fight anymore." 

The announcement, made from the Oval Office alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, signals a potentially pivotal moment in the regional conflict that has drawn in the United States, Iran, Israel, and Yemeni factions.

US Ceasefire Marks Major Diplomatic Shift

“We will honor that, and we will stop the bombings,” Trump declared. “They have capitulated, but more importantly, we will take their word … they say they will not be blowing up ships anymore.”

The U.S. has been conducting airstrikes on Houthi positions since mid-March in response to their attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes and ballistic missile launches targeting Israel. But according to a defense official, orders were given Monday night for the U.S. military to stand down.

🔗 Full article on MSN

Oman-Brokered Ceasefire

According to sources familiar with the negotiations, Trump’s ceasefire announcement followed intense diplomatic backchanneling between the U.S., Oman, and the Houthis.

Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi later confirmed that Muscat played a key role in mediating a truce.

“Following recent discussions and contacts conducted by the Sultanate of Oman with the United States and the relevant authorities in Sana’a… efforts have resulted in a ceasefire agreement between the two sides,” Albusaidi stated on X (formerly Twitter).

Oman has long served as an intermediary between the U.S. and Iranian-linked factions in the region, including the Houthis.

U.S. Prioritizes Naval Security and Diplomacy

In his remarks, Trump directed Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is also acting as interim national security adviser, to spread the word about the ceasefire. Rubio emphasized that the original goal was to protect global commerce.

“This was always a freedom of navigation issue,” Rubio said. “These are a band of individuals with advanced weaponry that were threatening global shipping, and the job was to get that to stop.”

Still, Trump left open the possibility of future military action if the Houthis resume aggression.

“I’ll discuss that if something happens … with Israel and the Houthis,” he said.

Houthi Rebels Acknowledge Truce, Double Down on Israel Opposition

Houthi leaders acknowledged Trump’s announcement but warned their opposition to Israel remains. The group has repeatedly linked its attacks to Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

“It is a victory that separates US support for the temporary entity [Israel] and a failure for Netanyahu, and he must resign,” said senior Houthi leader Mohammed Ali al-Houthi.

“Trump’s announcement of a halt to US aggression against Yemen will be evaluated on the ground first.”

Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Houthis’ Supreme Political Council, also issued a defiant message via the Houthi-run Saba news agency:

“There is no turning back from supporting Gaza, no matter the cost. What happened proves that our strikes are painful and will continue.”

Israel Left in the Dark as Conflict Intensifies

Notably, Israeli officials were not informed of the ceasefire before Trump made it public. The announcement came just hours after Israel carried out significant strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, including the port of Hodeidah and power infrastructure.

Earlier this week, a Houthi-launched ballistic missile penetrated Israel’s missile defense system and struck near Ben Gurion International Airport—a major escalation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed retaliation, warning the response would not be “one and done.”

🔗 Read more on CNN: Israel's airstrike campaign

U.S.-Iran Talks Gain Momentum

Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has been working behind the scenes on nuclear negotiations with Iran. The Houthi ceasefire is viewed as a strategic step to build momentum for a broader U.S.-Iran agreement.

The U.S. and Iran have already held three rounds of nuclear talks, with a fourth expected though not yet scheduled.

“This understanding is an important development,” Rubio emphasized, linking it directly to diplomatic progress.

🔗 Why U.S.-Iran nuclear talks remain complex

Military Struggles and Strategic Implications

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Despite weeks of airstrikes, the Houthi rebels have demonstrated surprising resilience.

According to U.S. officials, the campaign has been hindered by the group’s ability to shoot down at least seven U.S. drones—each worth millions of dollars.

These setbacks prevented the operation from entering its “phase two,” which was intended to more directly disrupt Houthi command and control.

The ceasefire also followed a pointed warning from U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who posted on X that Iran would “pay the CONSEQUENCE” if it continued supplying the Houthis.

“We know exactly what you are doing,” Hegseth wrote. “You know very well what the U.S. Military is capable of.”

While the ceasefire between the U.S. and Houthi rebels marks a hopeful moment of de-escalation, its durability is far from guaranteed. 

The Houthis have made clear that their fight with Israel will continue until the Gaza conflict ends.

Meanwhile, Israel’s military response remains forceful and ongoing. Whether this ceasefire catalyzes broader diplomatic solutions or merely offers a temporary pause remains to be seen.