Washington: When US President Donald Trump suddenly announced a two-month-long war against Yemen's Houthi extremists on Tuesday, it was a surprise for Israel. Trump gave this information at the beginning of the meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the Oval Office. He said that we are going to stop attacks on Houthi rebels with immediate effect. Trump said that the Houthis have indicated that they do not want to fight anymore. The US President said that the Houthi rebels have promised to stop attacking the important sea trade route passing through the Red Sea.
Trump said that the Houthis do not want to fight anymore and we will respect this and stop the attacks immediately. Trump's announcement has surprised Israel. On the day Trump made this announcement, Israel carried out a major airstrike in Sana'a, Yemen in response to the Houthis' ballistic missile attack, in which the main airport was completely destroyed. Not only this, Israel came to know about the decision after the announcement.
Israel was not informed
News agency AP quoted a US official as saying that before Trump publicly announced this, his administration did not inform Israel about the talks with the Houthis. On the condition of anonymity, the official said that Israel is unhappy with this unexpected announcement, especially because the Houthis have continued to attack Israel and its other bases.
No discussion of stopping attacks on Israel
This clearly indicates that Israel has been excluded from the US-Houthi talks, which is a major change in the US administration. After Trump made the announcement, Oman said that it had mediated in the ceasefire agreement. Oman said in a statement that under the agreement, neither the US nor the Houthis would target each other in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Oman's statement did not mention whether the Houthis had agreed to stop attacks on Israel.
Houthis said - attacks on Israel will continue
Mahdi al-Mashat, head of Yemen's Houthi Supreme Political Council, said the group would continue to support Gaza and attacks on Israel would continue. Houthi-run Al Masirah TV quoted him as saying, "From now on all Zionists should stay in shelters or immediately go to their country because your failed government will not be able to protect you after today."
