Overview

• President Donald Trump announced a halt to U.S. airstrikes against Yemen's Houthi rebels after they agreed to stop targeting American vessels in the Red Sea.
• The ceasefire, mediated by Oman, does not extend to Houthi attacks on Israeli ships, which the group vows to continue in solidarity with Gaza.
• The U.S. military's Operation Rough Rider, launched in March, expended over $1 billion and struck more than 800 targets but failed to fully degrade Houthi capabilities.
• Analysts caution that the Houthis may exploit the pause to regroup and rearm, with Iranian support and smuggling networks remaining critical to their resilience.
• The Houthis frame the truce as a victory, celebrating U.S. withdrawal as a sign of strength while maintaining their role as a key regional actor in Iran's 'Axis of Resistance.'