U.S. says Houthis agreed to stop attacks on Red Sea shipping; Houthi denial noted

A State Department spokesperson said President Donald Trump announced that the Houthis "have capitulated" and that the administration will "stop the bombings" against Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Bab el‑Mandeb Strait.

The announcement, delivered at a State Department briefing, cited a statement retweeted by Ambassador Steve Witkoff that credited the Sultanate of Oman with facilitating contacts between the United States and authorities in Sanaa that led to a ceasefire agreement. The Oman statement, as quoted by the briefing, said "neither side will target the other including American vessels in the Red Sea and the Bab El Mandeb Strait, ensuring freedom of navigation and the smooth flow of international commercial shipping." The spokesperson said more details would be available at a later briefing.

Reporters pressed the briefing official on the scope and durability of the reported agreement after the Houthis themselves publicly denied they had agreed to stop attacks. The spokesperson responded that the administration relies on leaders' actions and that the president's statement and the Oman message represent the current U.S. position. The official referred questions about U.S. military actions to the Department of Defense.

Why it matters: The Red Sea is a major international shipping lane. The State Department emphasized freedom of navigation as the framing for U.S. operations and credited diplomatic contacts with Oman for progress toward de‑escalation. The briefing left open key details — including whether the understanding covers attacks on non‑U.S. vessels — and acknowledged conflicting public statements from Houthi channels.

Further developments: The spokesperson said the administration would provide additional details at a future briefing, and reporters were told to look for more information later in the week.