U.S. Intel: Houthis Sought Exit Strategy Before Sudden Ceasefire
According to four U.S. officials, the Iranian-backed Houthi militia in Yemen began looking for a way out just days before the sudden ceasefire with the United States, as American airstrikes continued for a seventh consecutive week.
Two officials stated that during the first weekend of May, Houthi leaders reached out to U.S. allies in the Middle East seeking mediation. One official, speaking anonymously to Reuters, said: “We began receiving intelligence indicating the Houthis could no longer withstand the pressure.”
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) had anticipated that the campaign might last for months. However, on May 6, after 52 days of strikes, operations were abruptly halted, allowing President Donald Trump to declare victory just before his Middle East tour.
Sources say Iran played a key role in pushing the Houthis to the negotiating table, in line with Tehran’s own talks with Washington on nuclear issues and efforts to avoid any military escalation.
Despite being a close ally, Israel was reportedly not informed in advance of the ceasefire, raising eyebrows in diplomatic circles.
Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdul-Salam confirmed that the group communicated only via Oman, and agreed to the ceasefire under the condition that U.S. attacks would stop. “If they stop their aggression, we will stop our response,” he said.
Also read
The Houthi militias announced on Wednesday the resumption of flights at Sana’a International Airport, following a week of closure due to Israeli airstrikes that caused significant ...
In what many see as a calculated affront to the symbols of Yemen’s republican identity, the Houthi militia has abducted Imran Mohammed Mahmoud al-Zubayri, the son of the iconic rev...
Comments