US President Donald Trump has announced a ceasefire in the US campaign against Houthi missile attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.
Speaking at the Oval office in a meeting with Canadian Prime Minster Mark Carney, Mr Trump said the US is ending its attacks on missile infrastructure in Yemen because the Houthi regime said it will no longer attack international shipping - the objective of the airstrike campaign.
The Houthis began targeting vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in late 2023, claiming solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, which has been devastated by Israel's military after a shock Hamas attack that year.
The President also hinted at a major announcement which he expects to make later this week or on Monday - prior to departing on a planned trip to Saudi Arabia.
Mr Trump said: "We had some very good news last night. The Houthis have announced that they are not - or they've announced to us, at least, - that they don't want to fight anymore. They just don't want to fight, and we will honour that, and we will stop the bombings, and they have capitulated, but more importantly, we will take their word.
"They say they will not be blowing up ships anymore, and that's what the purpose of what we were doing. So that's just news. We just found out about that. So, I think that's very, very positive".
Attacks by the Houthis have prevented ships from passing through the Suez Canal - a vital route that normally carries about 12% of the world's shipping traffic.
The United States began carrying out strikes against the Houthis in early 2024 under President Joe Biden, and Mr Trump's administration launched renewed attacks on the rebels starting on 15 March.
The Pentagon said last week that US strikes had hit more than 1,000 targets in Yemen since mid-March in an operation that has been dubbed "Rough Rider".
Mr Trump also spoke of another "positive" announcement he hopes to make later this week, telling reporters in the Oval Office: "We're going to, as you know, the Middle East and Saudi Arabia. We're going to UAE and Qatar, and that'll be, I guess, Monday night.
"Some of you are coming with us. I think before then, we're going to have a very, very big announcement to make - like, as big as it gets, - and I won't tell you on what, but it's very positive...."
"It is really, really positive. And that announcement will be made either Thursday or Friday or Monday before we leave, but it'll be one of the most important announcements that have been made in many years about a certain subject, very important subject."
