United States President Donald Trump announced an immediate cessation of US military strikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels, following a truce deal brokered by Oman. Trump stated that the Houthis had 'capitulated' and agreed to stop disrupting shipping lanes, though the militant group denied such claims and confirmed ongoing military actions against Israel.

The Sultanate of Oman revealed that recent negotiations between American officials and Houthi representatives successfully led to a ceasefire agreement. Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi expressed hope that the truce would pave the way for broader regional peace and stability. Iran welcomed the development, praising the Houthis for their resilience while criticizing the US for supporting Israel.

Meanwhile, Israel was left out of the ceasefire arrangement. Axios reported that Israeli officials were surprised by the announcement, with one senior official stating, 'We didn’t know about this. Trump surprised us.' The Houthis, through statements aired on Al Masirah TV, emphasized their commitment to continue attacks against Israel, warning citizens to remain in shelters as their government 'cannot protect them.'

During his Middle East tour, Trump confirmed he would not stop in Israel this time, stating that discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are ongoing. He also reiterated his stance on Iran’s nuclear program, warning that Iran must never develop nuclear weapons and stressing that 'this is crunch time' for Tehran’s leadership.

The evolving situation highlights the complexities of Middle Eastern geopolitics, with a US-Houthi truce in place but Israel still facing active threats from the Yemeni rebels.