Trump Announces Halt to U.S. Bombing Campaign Against Houthis

WASHINGTON, May 6 (Reuters) – President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the United States will cease its bombing campaign against the Houthis in Yemen. This decision follows the Iran-aligned group’s agreement to halt attacks on crucial shipping routes in the Middle East.

During a meeting in the Oval Office with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump revealed that the Houthis have expressed their desire for peace, stating, “They said please don’t bomb us anymore and we’re not going to attack your ships.” No immediate confirmation was available from the Houthis regarding this claim.

The Houthis have been active in launching missiles at both Israel and vessels in the Red Sea following Israel’s military response to a deadly attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023. Tensions escalated further when a Houthi missile struck near Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport last Sunday, prompting retaliatory airstrikes from Israel on Yemen’s Hodeidah port.

On Tuesday, the Israeli military conducted another airstrike against the Houthi-controlled Sanaa airport, marking its second strike against the group in two days amid increasing hostilities between Israel and the Houthis.

Trump remarked that the U.S. would take the Houthis at their word, saying, “They have capitulated. They say they will not be blowing up ships anymore. And that’s what the purpose of what we were doing.” He also emphasized the importance of stopping attacks on shipping in the region.

The U.S. has engaged in significant military operations against the Houthis, reportedly targeting around 800 of their sites since mid-March. The White House previously stated that the objective of these operations was to protect U.S. shipping interests and eliminate threats posed by terrorist groups.

Details on future U.S. strategies to counter Iranian support for the Houthis were not disclosed by Trump. He described the development of the ceasefire as “very good news” but did not reveal the source of his information.