Trump halts military strikes on Houthis but expert warns Iran-backed terrorist group remains major threat
Share this @internewscast.com

President Donald Trump unexpectedly announced this week that the United States will cease all bombing campaigns on the Houthi group in Yemen, following weeks of intensive strikes. However, experts caution that the Iran-supported faction is unlikely to remain inactive.

During Trump’s announcement from the Oval Office on Tuesday, he stated that the Houthis “just don’t want to fight…and we will honor that. We will stop the bombings.”

The president declined to reveal who had informed him of this decision from the group, which has long posed a significant threat to freedom of navigation by attacking U.S. and allied ships in the Red Sea. When questioned, he humorously responded that it came from a “very good source.”

Less than two hours later, Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, the foreign minister of Oman, took to X to say, “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.”

houthis red sea

Houthi supporters gather to attend a rally in protest of the United States’ airstrikes on Yemen and Israel’s ongoing strikes in the Gaza Strip in Sanaa, Yemen, on Friday, March 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Osamah Abdulrahman)

Jonathan Schanzer, a former terrorism finance analyst at the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the current executive director of the FDD, called Oman’s role in negotiations between Washington and Middle East adversaries “outrageous.” 

“To hold them up as responsible intermediaries when they are in fact hosting the very group that we’re trying to dismantle, there’s very little logic [in] this position,” he told Fox News Digital.

The report found that Iranian arms are smuggled into Yemen through the port of Hodeidah – which was targeted in a series of Israeli strikes on major infrastructure in and around the Houthi-controlled capital of Sana’a this week – but also through smaller ports or overland through Oman.

Omani private banking institutions and businesses are also reportedly known to be “servicing the Houthi economy and even supplying the group with arms.” 

“More must be done to prevent bulk cash smuggling across the border between Oman and Yemen,” Heistein found. “Muscat must begin to feel pressure from the international community to address a threat finance challenge that has gone unchecked for too long.”

The report breaks down the varied steps that need to be taken to effectively undermine and counter the Houthis as repeated military strikes by first, Saudi Arabia starting in 2015, then recently by the U.S. and Israel, have not significantly degraded the terrorist group.

Houthi militants stomping on US, UK flags

Houthi fighters walk over British and U.S flags at a rally in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and the recent Houthi strikes on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden on Feb. 4, 2024, on the outskirts of Sana’a, Yemen. (Mohammed Hamoud/Getty Images)

Those steps include continued military action – similar to Israel’s recent strikes on Yemen’s Hodeidah port and Sana’a International Airport, which are expected to have far-reaching economic impacts and increase internal pressure on the Houthis. But military action alone isn’t enough; economic, diplomatic, and other soft power strategies are also needed to weaken the group, according to the report. 

The report also highlighted that the Houthis have utilized previous lulls in fighting with nations like Saudi Arabia, the U.S. and Israel to regroup and rebuild. 

“Compelling the Houthis to halt attacks on shipping is a meaningful achievement only if it is part of a broader, long-term strategy,” Heistein told Fox News Digital. “However, if a Red Sea ceasefire becomes the centerpiece and endpoint of U.S. policy toward the Houthis, it risks empowering an increasingly dangerous regime to escalate and de-escalate at will.

 “Without a comprehensive approach to addressing the Houthi threat, the U.S. and its allies could soon be confronting a more dangerous, better-armed terrorist group,” Heinstein warned. 

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Live Aid 40th anniversary: Judas Priest, Rick Springfield, John Oates and Bob Geldof reflect on concerts from Philadelphia, London

Celebrating 40 Years of Live Aid: Judas Priest, Rick Springfield, John Oates, and Bob Geldof Share Their Memories of the Philadelphia and London Concerts

NEW YORK — Forty years ago, the iconic Live Aid concerts set…
DOGE sprouts in red states, as governors embrace the cost-cutter brand and make it their own

Red States Adopt DOGE as Cost-Saving Measure, Endorsed by Governors

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — During the tumultuous early days of President Donald…
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at a mourning ceremony.

Iran’s Elderly and Fearful Ayatollah’s Grip Weakens – Former Ambassador Predicts Imminent Collapse

IRAN’S merciless regime is “fully on its heels” – leaving the Ayatollah’s…
Stephen Miller, Tom Homan Rip Dems on Child Labor at Pot Farm; Big News About Kids Missing Under Biden

Stephen Miller and Tom Homan Criticize Democrats Over Child Labor Issues at Cannabis Farm; Important Updates on Missing Children Under Biden’s Leadership

One of the most startling aspects of the ICE raid at the…
Boeing settles with a man whose family died in a 2019 crash in Ethiopia

Boeing Reaches Settlement with Man After 2019 Ethiopian Crash that Killed His Family

The tragic 2019 crash claimed the lives of all 157 passengers, including…
Russia's Lavrov warns US against 'exploiting' alliances as he meets with Kim Jong Un in North Korea

Russia’s Lavrov Cautions US on ‘Abusing’ Alliances During Meeting with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov highlighted the “invincible fighting brotherhood” between Russia…
France Norse Atlantic Airways passenger curses out airport workers in meltdown over canceled NY-bound flight

French Passenger Lashes Out at Airport Staff After Norse Atlantic Flight to New York Is Canceled

A passenger had a complete meltdown in an airport after learning her…
People boarding a small airplane.

How Carolina Wilga Survived 13 Days in the Cold Australian Outback After Going Missing

AFTER spending 11 freezing nights out in the wild, it was a…
Mountain lion possibly sighted in this New York city

Possible Mountain Lion Sighting Reported in New York City

A big roar rattled residents in Rochester and hit a bit too…
New Mexico brute Adlai Mestre allegedly shot parents, teen sister and family dog to death -- and dragged their corpses to ravine to 'bury them'

Tragic Incident in New Mexico: Adlai Mestre Accused of Killing Family and Dog, Attempting to Conceal Bodies in Ravine

A violent individual is accused of fatally shooting his parents, teenage sister,…
Aerial view of flood damage to the Blue Oak RV Park in Kerrville, Texas.

Chaos Unfolds at Texas Campground: Floodwaters Reaching 80mph Sweep Away the Site While Bystanders Watch in Horror

A city employee shared a heart-wrenching story about the moment he heard…
Gracie Cashman on 'wild ride' of being Yankees GM's daughter, finding herself through YES show

Gracie Cashman Talks About The Thrills of Being the Yankees GM’s Daughter and Her Journey of Self-Discovery on a YES Network Show

YES Network personality Gracie Cashman, daughter of Yankees GM Brian Cashman, takes…