WASHINGTON − President Donald Trump declared the U.S. will cease airstrikes on Houthi militants in Yemen with immediate effect.
"We will stop the bombings," Trump stated from the Oval Office.
Trump instructed Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who he recently appointed as acting national security adviser, to communicate the decision to the Iran-backed militant group.
The U.S. bombing campaign, known as "Operation Rough Rider," began on March 15 in response to Houthi attacks on commercial shippers in the Red Sea.
The Houthis, officially Ansar Allah, claim their attacks are retaliation against Israel's blockade of Gaza and U.S. military support for Israel. The group is aligned with Hamas as part of the "Axis of Resistance," a coalition of Iran-backed militant groups in the region.
Trump made the announcement during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the White House, revealing that the Houthi rebels expressed their desire to cease hostilities the previous evening. Trump confirmed the administration's commitment to honoring their pledge.
"They have surrendered, and most importantly ... we will trust their word," he stated. "They have vowed to end attacks on ships."
"If the attacks cease, then so will we," Rubio affirmed after Trump invited him to address the press.