Trump Announces Immediate Halt to U.S. Bombing of Houthis, Claiming Iran-Backed Rebels “Capitulated”

By: Fern Sidman

In a surprise announcement that could reshape the dynamics of one of the Middle East’s most volatile flashpoints, former President Donald Trump declared Tuesday that the United States will end its bombing campaign against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, effective immediately. As reported by The Times of Israel, the move comes after the Houthis allegedly informed the Trump administration that they no longer intend to engage in attacks, particularly those targeting international shipping lanes.\

Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump claimed that the Houthis “capitulated” and assured U.S. officials that they “don’t want to fight anymore.” The Times of Israel report noted that the announcement marks a significant shift in American posture in the Red Sea region, where a multinational naval coalition had been responding to Houthi aggression that endangered global trade and regional security.

“We will honor that and we will stop the bombings,” Trump told reporters. “They say they will not be blowing up ships anymore, and that was the purpose of what we’ve been doing.” He further characterized the development as a “very positive” turn, suggesting that the Houthis were finally relenting after sustained military pressure.

🚨 BREAKING: President Trump says, “The Houthis have announced they don’t want to fight anymore.”

Did they officially surrender? Or do they just mean they won’t engage the U.S.—while continuing attacks on Israel?#Trump #Houthis #Israel #MiddleEast #RedSea #BreakingNews #Yemen… pic.twitter.com/WhHBEWxubK

— The Jewish Voice (@TJVNEWS) May 6, 2025

As The Times of Israel report highlighted, Trump’s decision to halt U.S. strikes raises pressing questions about both verification and deterrence. While the Houthis’ attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden were the stated justification for the American military response, they have also repeatedly launched long-range missile and drone attacks against Israel—something Trump notably did not mention during his remarks.

The absence of any reference to Israel or the broader network of Iranian proxies—including Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iraqi Shiite militias—was particularly striking, as the report at The Times of Israel pointed out. The Houthis have publicly positioned themselves as part of Iran’s “axis of resistance” and have justified their attacks on Israeli territory as solidarity with Gaza. Yet Trump’s ceasefire announcement appears to focus solely on maritime threats, leaving ambiguity around whether Houthi hostilities against Israel will also cease.

According to the information provided in The Times of Israel report, U.S. and Israeli defense officials are privately expressing concern over the reliability of Houthi assurances. The group has a documented history of agreeing to ceasefires and then violating them, often at Iran’s direction. Skepticism is especially high given that just days ago, the Houthis were responsible for a direct missile strike on Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, prompting retaliatory Israeli airstrikes deep inside Yemen.

Israeli leaders have so far not responded publicly to Trump’s announcement. The report in The Times of Israel indicated that Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are expected to consult with U.S. officials to determine whether the Houthis’ reported surrender includes a halt to attacks on Israeli assets—or whether Israel will continue to act independently against perceived threats emanating from Yemen.

The Trump administration has not provided details about the terms of the Houthi message or the mechanisms by which their compliance will be monitored. “We’re taking them at their word,” Trump said, a statement that raised eyebrows among Middle East analysts interviewed by The Times of Israel, given the group’s longstanding ties to Tehran and its pattern of asymmetric warfare tactics.

For Israel the central concern remains whether this sudden American policy reversal will limit its own freedom of action. With the IDF conducting independent airstrikes on Houthi positions—particularly those used to transfer Iranian arms or launch attacks—Israeli security officials may now find themselves balancing between American diplomatic strategy and the imperatives of national defense.

In the absence of assurances regarding Israel’s security, some analysts fear the announcement may embolden the Houthis or their Iranian sponsors to shift tactics without truly abandoning their military ambitions. “Ceasefires with groups like the Houthis must be earned, verified, and enforced,” one expert told The Times of Israel. “Taking their word is a gamble.”

As the region waits to see whether the Houthis truly intend to stand down, Trump’s decision injects both hope and uncertainty into a conflict that remains deeply entwined with Iran’s broader strategy of regional destabilization. For now, the message from Washington is one of de-escalation—but the consequences for Israel and the Middle East remain to be seen.