Bab El Mandeb Archives - CrossFireArarbia

Oman Mediates US-Houthi Ceasefire

CrossFireArabia
May 6, 2025

Oman on Tuesday announced that its mediatory efforts led to a ceasefire between the US and Houthis in Yemen, after President Donald Trump said the group will not be carrying out attacks on commercial ships.

“Following recent discussions and contacts conducted by the Sultanate of Oman with the United States and the relevant authorities in Sana’a, in the Republic of Yemen, with the aim of de-escalation, efforts have resulted in a ceasefire agreement between the two sides,” Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said in a statement on X.

“In the future, neither side will target the other, including American vessels, in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait, ensuring freedom of navigation and the smooth flow of international commercial shipping,” he added.

Breaking | Oman announces a ceasefire agreement between the Houthis and the US.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Dhaifallah Al-Shami, a member of the Political Bureau of Ansar Allah, stated that if there is a halt, it will apply only to the targeting of American ships, while the… pic.twitter.com/ZXRknHYjpw
— Daniella Modos – Cutter -SEN (@DmodosCutter) May 6, 2025

Expressing appreciation for both parties’ cooperation, Albusaidi said: “The Sultanate of Oman expresses its gratitude to both parties for their constructive approach that led to this welcome outcome, and hopes that it will lead to further progress on many regional issues towards achieving justice, peace, and prosperity for all.”

Houthis started attacking shipping lanes in the Red and Arabian seas after Israel’s war in Gaza, in solidarity with the Palestinians.

In March, Trump launched a military operation against the Yemeni group.

Earlier, during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the White House, Trump said Houthis informed them they will not be carrying out additional attacks on commercial ships, and the US will reciprocate by halting attacks on Yemen, according to Anadolu.

News

How Houthis Changed Global Trade Routes

CrossFireArabia
June 14, 2024

According to US intelligence sources, Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red and Arabian Seas has affected the interests of at least 65 countries as reported by Al Jazeera.

#عاجل | وكالة استخبارات الدفاع الأمريكية:
– هجمات الحوثيين أثرت على مصالح 65 دولة على الأقل
– 29 شركة كبرى للطاقة والشحن عدلت مسار سفنها لتفادي هجماتهم
– تضرر 19 سفينة جراء هجمات الحوثيين بين نوفمبر ومارس الماضيين
– هجمات الحوثيين تستمر في تمثيل تهديد متنام في المنطقة#حرب_غزة pic.twitter.com/hfX45vvQ6O
— قناة الجزيرة (@AJArabic) June 13, 2024

The attacks also affected the interests of 29 mega energy and cargo companies because of the needed rerouting from the Yemen’s Bab El Mandeb, to going around the Cope of Good Hope on the tip of Southern Africa.

The satellite channel pointed out 19 ships were damaged by such attacks between November 2023 till last March.

Bab el Mandeb au Yémen et le détroit d'Ormuz en Iran…. https://t.co/qPO9uWw47x pic.twitter.com/tANkTiJ6y3
— Hamo (@hamo31000) April 13, 2024

And today, the Houthi attacks continue and are seen as a major security challenge to world trade and free shipping. But the Houthis have also maintained that from the start, they would only target ships bound for Eilat and other Israeli ports.

Since the attacks started however, 100s of ships have been diverted from the narrow Bab El Mandeb on the corner tip of Yemen to the Cape of Good Hope which has tremendously affected global trade.

How global trade routes changed from the Red Sea to the Cape of Good Hope around Africa after Ansarullah attacks on Israeli ships and Israel's allies pic.twitter.com/xHYEwPADj9
— S p r i n t e r F a m i l y (@SprinterFamily) April 12, 2024

The Red Sea route used to be busy accounting for 12 percent of world trade going through the Suez Canal and which is estimated to be worth $1 trillion each year. As well, 10 percent of the world’s energy supplies go through the narrow Yemeni straits.