Houthis pledge to respect 2025 ceasefire, spare US-flagged vessels

The Houthi movement has indicated its willingness to honour a ceasefire arrangement scheduled for 2025 while committing to spare vessels flying the American flag from attacks, according to reports emerging from diplomatic channels. The development marks a significant shift in the group's communication with Washington after months of escalating maritime tensions in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the Houthis had initiated contact with his administration, signalling a desire for American disengagement from Yemen's protracted conflict. The communication suggests the rebel group may be seeking to de-escalate regional tensions following sustained pressure from international naval operations and airstrikes.

The Houthis have been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and several allied nations. Their assurances regarding the 2025 ceasefire and exemption of American vessels represent an unexpected opening in what has been an adversarial relationship, though implementation and verification of such commitments remain uncertain.

The reported pledges come as the international community grapples with Yemen's humanitarian crisis and the broader implications of Red Sea shipping disruptions. The extent to which the Houthis will honour such commitments and what incentives may have prompted the direct engagement with Trump's team remain subjects of ongoing scrutiny among regional analysts and policymakers.