Jerusalem blindsided as Trump announces unilateral ceasefire with Houthis following Israeli strikes on Sanaa Airport. Houthi leaders say the truce with the US does not apply to the Zionist entity. Yet another unpleasant surprise from the new Administration.

Late Sunday, a missile launched by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels struck inside the perimeter of Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, injuring six people. The projectile gouged a wide crater near an access road by Terminal 3, briefly halting flights. In response, Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed swift retribution: “Whoever harms us will be struck sevenfold in return,” he declared. By Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet had ordered the Israel Defense Forces to draw up attack plans against Houthi targets in Yemen.

On Monday evening, about 20 Israeli fighter jets flew to Yemen and struck Houthi positions, including Sanaa International Airport. The Air Force destroyed runways, radar systems, and key infrastructure at the site, which intelligence reports identified as a launch site for long-range drones and ballistic missiles. The operation was meant to degrade the Houthis’ capacity to continue targeting Israeli civilians and infrastructure. Pictures released by the Defense Ministry showed the jets preparing for takeoff under the supervision of Netanyahu and Katz.

Houthi-run media later reported at least four dead and dozens wounded in the raids. Houthi spokesman Nasruddin Amer vowed that “the aggressive Zionist-American raids on civilian facilities will not affect our military operations against the Zionist enemy entity,” signaling the rebels’ intent to continue targeting Israel.

On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump suddenly announced that the United States would halt its strikes on Yemen’s Houthis, saying the group had agreed to stop attacking American shipping. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said the Houthis “don’t want to fight anymore” and that he would “accept their word” and “stop the bombing of the Houthis effective immediately.” Notably, his statement made no mention of Israel or the rebels’ missile and drone campaign against it.

Israeli officials only learned of the ceasefire deal when Trump announced it publicly, a U.S. official later confirmed. A senior aide in Jerusalem said, “We were completely shocked. Israel was not informed before Trump made the statement.” Trump’s team said the truce was mediated by Oman to protect Red Sea navigation, aiming to build momentum in broader Iran negotiations.

Houthi leaders immediately clarified that the U.S. accord did not cover their war with Israel. Mahdi al-Mashat, head of Yemen’s Houthi political council, told rebel-aligned Al-Masirah TV that the group would continue its strikes “in support of Gaza” and urged Israelis to “remain in shelters because their government will not be able to protect them.” Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a senior rebel commander, similarly indicated attacks on Israel would go on. In Sanaa, Houthi chief negotiator Mohammed Abdul-Salam told Reuters bluntly that the ceasefire “does not include Israel in any way, shape or form.”

The unexpected U.S. announcement has created sharp diplomatic friction. Jerusalem officials and analysts say Washington’s move reflects an “America First” calculation – securing U.S. trade routes – at odds with Israel’s security needs. In Congress, critics of the deal warned Israel must fend for itself. “Israel is on its own defending itself from Iran’s proxies,” tweeted Senator Lindsey Graham (R–SC), a Trump ally, urging Israeli leaders to “do what you have to do to protect your airspace and your people” – even suggesting strikes against Iran if needed. Israel’s government insisted it remains in close coordination with Washington, but the episode underscored concerns about diverging U.S. and Israeli interests.

In response to Oval Office questions regarding Israel’s security implications stemming from a new deal, former President Donald Trump dismissed the matter as unrelated to the agreement. “No, I don’t know about that frankly, but I know one thing: they [the Houthis] want nothing to do with us, and they’ve let that be known through all of their surrogates and very strongly,” he told reporters.

The shift in U.S. policy sent shockwaves through Israeli political circles. “Trump’s announcement that the US will stop attacking the Houthis is a resounding message to the entire region: attack Israel, just leave us Americans alone,” wrote Israeli political analyst Amit Segal on X. “If I were Iranian, that’s how I’d interpret it.”

The timing of the ceasefire, announced while Houthi missiles were being fired at Ben Gurion Airport and the IDF was conducting airstrikes in Yemen, sparked accusations of diplomatic sidelining. Barak Ravid noted in Walla that the deal appeared to have been struck without Jerusalem’s knowledge, describing it as a sign of “extremely serious coordination and trust issues between the Netanyahu government and the Trump administration.” A senior Israeli official admitted on Wednesday that it was still unclear what the implications would be for Israel.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro welcomed the reduction in attacks on American vessels but warned the threat remains if hostilities against Israel and other regional partners persist. “No attacks on US ships is good news,” Shapiro said. “But the win is modest if attacks on others’ ships or on Israel continue. A terror org launching missiles around the region (incl to Israel’s airport) can’t continue.” He emphasized that Israeli military operations may need to persist regardless of the U.S. posture.

An Israeli defense source confirmed that another close U.S. ally involved in the anti-Houthi campaign was also left out of the loop before Trump’s declaration. The same source noted that U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth received at least one irate call from a foreign defense minister shortly afterward.

Back in Washington, members of Congress expressed frustration over the lack of conditions in the agreement to halt Houthi attacks against Israel. “Clearly, that’s a problem,” said Sen. James Lankford (R-OK), referring to the absence of provisions requiring the Houthis to stop targeting Israel. “The initial statement was they’ve got to stop firing at American ships. As much as I know is what’s actually printed. But clearly, they shouldn’t be able to shoot at us, our allies or any of the shipping in the area.” Additional criticism came from Senators Rick Scott, Lindsey Graham, Thom Tillis, Ted Cruz, Richard Blumenthal, Chris Coons, and Chris Murphy.

Jonathan Schanzer of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies suggested that a decline in Houthi attacks on Red Sea targets does not necessarily mean more attacks on Israel will follow. The weapons used for long-range strikes against Israel, he explained, are different from the types typically used in maritime assaults. However, he cautioned that a pause in U.S. strikes might enable the Houthis to reposition and expand their operational capacity.

The announcement also follows a shakeup in Trump’s national security team. Mike Waltz, recently ousted as national security advisor, had been one of the administration’s most vocal advocates for continued military action against the Houthis. A former Green Beret, Waltz pushed for a more aggressive stance toward both the Yemeni militants and their Iranian sponsors. Since December, the Houthis have launched dozens of ballistic missiles at Israel and severely disrupted Red Sea shipping lanes.

The episode also highlights broader regional implications. Israel’s military views the Houthi front as part of Iran’s proxy war – the rebels’ slogan famously calls for “Death to America, Death to Israel.” The Houthis have openly vowed to impose “a comprehensive air blockade on the Israeli enemy by repeatedly targeting airports, most notably… Ben Gurion Airport.” If U.S. forces no longer strike back in Yemen, Israeli analysts warn, the Houthis may feel emboldened to resume or intensify their attacks on Israel. That could force Israel to take unilateral action to maintain deterrence.

For now, flights remain suspended at Ben Gurion and Israelis continue to live under rocket and drone alert, even as policymakers in Jerusalem weigh how to respond to the American move. The diplomatic fallout of Trump’s one-sided truce – coming amid Israel’s war with Hamas and ongoing confrontations with other Iranian proxies – will be watched closely as regional tensions evolve.