Houthis Pledge to Keep Targeting Israel Despite Ceasefire With U.S.

Donald Trump declared that Yemen’s Houthi rebels “have capitulated,” while a top Houthi official said Washington’s agreement to a May 6 ceasefire is “an expression of helplessness and failure.” The U.S. military had been striking the Houthis daily since March 15 as part of Operation Rough Rider, whose objective was to restore freedom of navigation in the Red Sea after hundreds of attacks on U.S. naval vessels and commercial shipping.

What the Omani-brokered agreement does not include is any commitment from the Houthis to stop attacking Israel. In solidarity with Hamas, the Houthis have launched hundreds of missiles and drones at the Jewish state since October 2023, most of which Israel has intercepted. Yet its air defenses failed to intercept a May 4 missile that landed near Ben Gurion airport, prompting Israeli airstrikes in Houthi-controlled Yemen.

The first Trump administration designated the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization in January 2021. The Biden administration quickly reversed that decision, but Trump designated the Houthis again after returning to the White House.

Language From Oman Indicates Israel Remains in Houthi Crosshairs

The Omani Foreign Ministry issued a one-paragraph summary of the deal under which “In the future, neither side will target the other, including American vessels, in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait, ensuring freedom of navigation and the smooth flow of international commercial shipping.” This appeared to indicate the deal does not prohibit continuing strikes on Israel. When asked about the potential for the Houthis to continue targeting Israel, Trump said, “I’ll discuss that if something happens.”

The Houthis addressed the issue more directly. Mohammed Abdel Salam, their spokesman and chief negotiator based in Muscat, said, “The initial understanding with the Americans has nothing to do with our position on supporting Gaza.” Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Houthis’ Supreme Political Council, threatened Israel, saying, “To all Zionists, from now on, stay in shelters or leave for your homelands immediately, as your failed government will no longer be able to protect you.”

Iranian officials from the foreign ministry and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps told The New York Times that Iran influenced the Houthis to reach a deal with Washington. Iran may be motivated to promote quiet in the Red Sea in light of the ongoing nuclear negotiations.

U.S. Should Move to Block Houthi Rearmament, Support Israel Against Houthis

Mohammad al-Basha, a close observer of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) air campaign, recorded no airstrikes on the night of May 6 for the first time since the campaign began seven weeks prior. During the operation, CENTCOM “hit over 1,000 targets — killing Houthi fighters and leaders and degrading their capabilities. The mission has been hugely successful thus far,” according to chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell. However, the May 4 attack on Ben Gurion demonstrates that the Houthis retain the capability to launch dangerous attacks.

To preserve the successes of the U.S. air campaign, American forces, along with partners in the region, should increase counter-smuggling efforts to hinder Houthi rearmament plans. The United States should also increase training opportunities and provide additional supplies to the Yemeni Coast Guard to support interdiction efforts by Yemen’s internationally recognized government. Relatedly, Washington should pressure Oman to close smuggling routes through its territory that have become a conduit for weapons shipments to the Houthis. Finally, the White House should make clear to the Houthis that it will support and facilitate Israeli efforts to retaliate if the group continues its attacks. This support should include the potential for a resumption of the air campaign.

Bridget Toomey is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), where she focuses on Iranian proxies, specifically Iraqi militias and the Houthis. 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.