Oman announced on Tuesday that it had successfully mediated a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Yemen's Houthi movement, signaling a significant de-escalation in regional tensions that have intensified since the start of the Israel-Gaza war in October 2023.
According to a statement released by the Omani government, neither side will target the other, including an explicit commitment to cease attacks on U.S. vessels in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait—a crucial global shipping lane that has been repeatedly disrupted in recent months.
The statement did not reference the Houthis' prior missile and drone attacks on Israel, which the group had claimed were acts of solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.
The ceasefire announcement follows remarks from U.S. President Donald Trump, who said earlier Tuesday that Washington would stop bombing Houthi targets, noting that the Iran-aligned group had agreed to halt its operations that had threatened maritime traffic in the region.
The Houthis began targeting international shipping lanes in the Red Sea shortly after the outbreak of the Gaza war, asserting that their actions were in support of Palestinians and in protest of U.S. backing for Israel.
In March, the Trump administration launched what became the largest U.S. military campaign against the Houthis during his current term, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of Yemenis, according to regional sources. The operation drew widespread condemnation from humanitarian organizations and renewed concerns about the conflict's regional spillover.
Oman, which has long maintained diplomatic neutrality and played a behind-the-scenes mediating role in Middle Eastern conflicts, has facilitated past rounds of indirect talks between the Houthis and Western governments. This ceasefire deal marks the first formal agreement between the Houthis and the U.S. since the resumption of open hostilities linked to the Gaza conflict.
Further details on the terms of the agreement and the monitoring mechanism have not yet been released.
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Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 13 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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