The United States and Yemen’s Houthi rebels have reached a ceasefire agreement brokered by Oman, the sultanate’s foreign minister, Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, said.
According to Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, the parties have promised not to attack each other and to ensure the safety of shipping in the Red Sea.
“Neither side will target the other… ensuring freedom of navigation and the smooth flow of international commercial shipping” in the Red Sea, Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi said.
The day before, the IDF carried out massive strikes on Yemeni territory. The capital’s airport was almost completely destroyed, and two power stations, a cement factory and the port of Hodeidah were seriously damaged.
Shortly before that, US President Donald Trump announced that the US would stop bombing the Houthis in Yemen because they had “surrendered” and promised not to attack ships in the Red Sea anymore.
The bombing of Houthi positions, which began on March 15 on the orders of Donald Trump, was justified by the need to restore safe shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
The Houthis began firing on ships in the Red Sea in November 2023, claiming to support the Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas. They claimed that they were only attacking ships linked to Israel, the US or the UK, but other ships were often hit.
Since November 2023, the Houthis have captured one ship, sunk two and killed four sailors, forcing major shipping companies such as Maersk and MSC to reroute their ships around the Cape of Good Hope. This has increased fuel and insurance costs, damaging global trade.
