A Promise From Yemen’s Houthis Isn’t Worth the Paper It’s Written On

The Houthis, emboldened by the international community’s fatigue after nearly two years of protecting Red Sea shipping from Houthi terrorism, are testing the Trump administration’s tolerance for aggression.

Despite a ceasefire between the United States and the Houthis since May 2025, the Iran-backed group has continued to signal hostility. On September 30, the Houthis sanctioned 13 U.S. companies and their CEOs — a possible precursor to resuming attacks on U.S. ships. The Iran-backed group said these sanctions are “a first installment in response to the sanctions imposed” by the United States, apparently viewing the American penalties as a violation of the ceasefire agreement.

Only the day before, the Houthis struck a Netherlands-flagged and -owned vessel, the Minervagracht, off the coast of Aden after a failed attack on the ship the week prior. The September 29 attack injured two crew members and forced the rest to abandon the ship. In response, European countries, especially the Netherlands, condemned the Houthis. The United States has not addressed the incident.

Houthis Continue To Target Ships With Impunity

Western leaders expected the May ceasefire to protect international shipping. At the time, President Donald Trump said, “We will take their word. They say they will not be blowing up ships anymore.” A bare-bones statement from the Omani Foreign Ministry on the verbal agreement — the Omani readout was the only “text” for the deal — reaffirmed this intention, saying the agreement would ensure “freedom of navigation and the smooth flow of international commercial shipping.” However, the Houthis insisted that the agreement does not include Israel and Israel-linked vessels. They have used this as justification to attack commercial ships even if ties to Israel are distant, tenuous, or non-existent.

The Houthis waited only two months before attacking and sinking two commercial vessels. On July 6, the Houthis launched an attack on Magic Seas, followed the next day by an attack on Eternity C, which killed four mariners. In response, the United States and European partners took no action and instead released statements.

The Houthis Have a Long History of Violating Agreements

The Red Sea is not the only arena where the Houthis have previously disregarded their commitments. The UN-brokered Stockholm Agreement, a 2018 deal between the internationally recognized government of Yemen and the Houthis, called for independent oversight of the region’s key ports and for the resulting profits to go to public salaries. Instead, the Houthis maintained control and pocketed port revenue.

The Houthis have also made numerous local commitments, including ceasefires and disarmament deals, with government and tribal authorities in Yemen, but then reneged when it suited them.

Washington Should Act Before the Houthis Force America’s Hand

Instead of waiting for the Houthis to continue their aggression, the Trump administration should lead the international community in intensifying pressure on the group. To begin with, Trump should encourage the European Union (EU) to designate the Houthis as terrorists — a step the Netherlands called for following the Houthis’ September 29 attack on a Dutch ship. Concurrently, the EU should increase funding to Operation Aspides, an EU defensive mission to protect vessels in the Red Sea begun in February 2024, which its commander has acknowledged does not have sufficient ships to provide security for most vessels in the Red Sea.

The Trump administration should also impose additional sanctions on the Houthis, particularly financiers in Yemen, Oman, and abroad, as well as companies and individuals involved in procuring weapons illicitly from Iran or importing commercially available, dual-use components. These actions would hinder the Houthis’ capacity to conduct attacks and signal that U.S. pressure will not abate so long as the group still threatens the Red Sea. Likewise, President Trump should direct the Pentagon to provide the administration with options to restore deterrence, including limited military action.

Bridget Toomey is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). For more analysis from Bridget and FDD, please subscribe HERE. Follow Bridget on X @BridgetKToomey. Follow FDD on X @FDD. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.