A senior Houthi official has dismissed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that the Yemeni group “capitulated” by agreeing to a ceasefire deal, insisting instead that the United States “backed down.”
Speaking to Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV, the group’s chief negotiator Mohammed Abdul Salam said:
“What changed is the American position, but our position remains firm.”
The comment came after the Sultanate of Oman, which mediated the agreement, announced that both the United States and the Houthis had agreed to no longer target each other, ending seven weeks of intensified U.S. airstrikes in response to Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea.
However, Abdul Salam clarified that the ceasefire does not apply to Israel, which carried out two separate airstrikes on Yemen this week. He reaffirmed the group’s ongoing support for Palestinians in Gaza, declaring that their position on the conflict “will not change.”
Ongoing Hostilities with Israel
Israel has conducted multiple air raids on Houthi positions since July 2024, in retaliation for repeated missile and drone launches from Yemen. On Sunday, a Houthi missile struck near Ben Gurion Airport outside Tel Aviv, injuring six people. Israel responded with two rounds of airstrikes this week:
On Monday, Israeli jets targeted the Red Sea port of Hudaydah, reportedly destroying warehouses, docks, and the customs area. Four civilians were killed, according to the Houthi-run health ministry.
On Tuesday, Sanaa International Airport and nearby power stations were bombed. Sources told Reuters that the airport's runway, three aircraft, the departures hall, and a military base were damaged. Three people were reportedly killed.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, “I have said many times that whoever attacks the State of Israel will pay the price.”
The U.S. Stance and Ceasefire Context
The Houthis have controlled large parts of north-western Yemen since 2014, after seizing the capital Sanaa and toppling the internationally recognized government, triggering a prolonged civil war.
Since November 2023, the group has launched dozens of attacks on merchant vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, claiming to target ships linked to Israel, the U.S., or the UK. While many of these claims were disputed, the Houthis sank two ships, seized a third, and killed four crew members.
Despite the presence of Western naval forces in the region, the group remained undeterred. In March, Trump ordered a renewed U.S. air campaign, vowing to “completely annihilate” the Houthis. By the end of April, the U.S. military reported more than 800 strikes on Houthi targets, including air defense systems and weapons facilities. They also claimed to have killed hundreds of fighters and several Houthi leaders, though names were not disclosed.
At a press briefing this week, Trump declared, “They [the Houthis] say they don’t want to fight anymore, and we will honour that. They have capitulated.” He added that the U.S. would cease strikes, trusting the Houthis’ commitment to end attacks on ships.
Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi later confirmed the deal on X (formerly Twitter), stating:
“In the future, neither side will target the other, including American vessels, ensuring freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait.”
However, in a statement to Reuters, Abdul Salam emphasized:
“The agreement does not include Israel in any way, shape or form.” He further described Trump’s comments as “a reflection of Washington’s frustration after failing to protect Israeli ships and contain the fallout of its involvement.”