Trump Stops U.S. Bombing of Houthis, Claims They’ve Surrendered Fight

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the U.S. will halt its bombing campaign against Yemen’s Houthi rebels, claiming the group has signaled they "don’t want to fight." Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said the Houthis have "capitulated" and promised to stop attacking ships in the Red Sea, a key global shipping route. The decision to pause airstrikes, effective immediately, follows months of U.S. strikes on nearly 800 Houthi targets, aimed at curbing their attacks on maritime traffic.

"They’re done blowing up ships, and that’s what we wanted," Trump told reporters, citing a "very good source" for the Houthis’ stance, though he kept the source’s identity under wraps. The move comes as Israel intensifies its own strikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, including the capital, Sana’a, raising questions about the region’s stability.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that the U.S. goal was to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, disrupted by Houthi attacks with advanced weaponry. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce echoed this, framing the Houthis as a threat to global trade. However, Trump offered no clarity on how the U.S. will address Iran’s ongoing support for the Houthis, a critical factor in the group’s resilience.

The abrupt shift in U.S. policy leaves open questions about whether the Houthis’ pledge is genuine or a tactical pause, especially as regional tensions escalate.