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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.

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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.