The US and Yemeni Houtis agreed to a deal through Oman to stop the trade attack after weeks of air strikes.
The ceasefire agreement between Yemen’s Huutis and the US does not include operations against Israel, the group’s chief negotiator announced.
Mohammed Abdalsalam told Reuters on Wednesday that attacking Israel was not included in “any form, form or form” in the Oman-born agreement.
The announcement of the contract comes hours after Israeli fighters targeted Yemen’s Sanaa airport. Airport director Khaled Al Shayf told Al Masilah on Wednesday that “the Israeli invasion caused a loss of about $500 million” at the airport.
The deal was announced a day ago by US President Donald Trump. President Donald Trump said the attack on Yemen would soon be stopped after the group agreed to stop targeting vessels in the Red Sea.
In a statement on Tuesday, Oman Foreign Minister Badr Albusady said, “Following recent discussions and contact information, the efforts have led to a ceasefire agreement between both sides with the aim of de-escalation.”
“Neither side targets others… ensuring freedom of navigation and smooth flow of international commercial transport,” he added.
Attack on shipping
Since Israel launched its war with Gaza in October 2023 following the Hamas attack on southern Israel, the Houtis has targeted Israel and ships in solidarity with the Palestinians.
During a fleeting ceasefire in Gaza earlier this year, the Houtis paused the attack, but resumed following Israel’s decision to enforce a complete blockade of the enclave in early March, but the war was soon followed by a full reopening.
The group also threatened to resume attacks on transport, which had been suspended since January, sparking responses from the US military in the form of nearly a day of air strikes.
But Trump announced the agreement on Tuesday, saying the Hoosis “don’t want to fight any more.”
“And we respected it, stopped the bombing and they surrendered,” he added.
“They say they won’t blow the ship any more, and that’s… the purpose of what we were doing.”
However, Abdulsalam told Houthi-Abileated Newseted Al Masirah TV that US actions will lead to post-trade responses.
“If the American enemy resumes attacks, we will resume strikes,” he said.
“The true guarantee of the agreement is the dark experience the US had in Yemen,” he added.
Houthi’s political leader Mahdi Al-Mashat also said the attack on Israel would “continue” and “go beyond what the Israeli enemy can withstand.”
A ballistic missile attack launched by the Houchys at Ben Gurion International Airport on Sunday hit the airport’s boundary, causing eight people to injure, damaging roads and vehicles, and halting air traffic.
The Israeli forces confirmed that its defense system did not fire down the projectile despite several attempts to intercept it, adding that an investigation is ongoing.