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U.S. ceasefire agreement with Houthis highlights strategic shift
In the days leading up to a surprise ceasefire between the U.S. and the Houthis, U.S. intelligence picked up signs that the Yemeni fighters were seeking an exit after enduring seven weeks of intense U.S. airstrikes, according to four U.S. officials. Houthi leaders began reaching out to U.S. allies in the Middle East in early May, signaling their interest in negotiations.
The ceasefire, which came after 52 days of bombing, marked an abrupt end to a campaign that the U.S. Central Command had initially expected to last for much of the year. This move allowed President Donald Trump to declare victory before his trip to the Middle East. Since November 2023, the Houthis had disrupted maritime trade by launching missile and drone attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, claiming to target ships connected to Israel in solidarity with Palestinians over the Gaza conflict.
Iran played a crucial role in encouraging the Houthis to negotiate, as Tehran sought to engage with the U.S. over its nuclear program to ease sanctions and avoid military strikes. Despite initial reluctance, the Trump administration acted swiftly on intelligence and secured a ceasefire agreement that many experts had deemed unlikely. In a surprising move, the U.S. bypassed Israel, which was not informed about the agreement beforehand.
The bombing campaign was costly for the U.S., depleting munitions and leading to the loss of two aircraft and several drones. Following intelligence reports in early May, U.S. officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, concluded that an opportunity existed to secure a deal with the Houthis. Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, led indirect negotiations through Omani mediators with Houthi negotiator Mohammed Abdulsalam, who was in contact with the group’s leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi. A framework for the agreement was reached by May 6, and Trump announced it publicly, declaring that the Houthis had agreed to stop targeting U.S. ships.
The Houthis, through Abdulsalam, acknowledged the ceasefire, stating they had agreed to halt attacks in response to U.S. aggression. The deal provided the Houthis with an opportunity to de-escalate and rebuild, avoiding further strategic risks. Regional allies of the U.S. also sought an end to the conflict, fearing that continued pressure on the Houthis would lead to retaliation against Saudi Arabia or the UAE.
The ceasefire agreement marked a shift in the U.S. approach, which had been on the verge of escalating the conflict with the Houthis, a group known for its resilience despite years of bombardment by a Saudi-led coalition.