Israel vows to protect itself amid Trump-Houthi agreement

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, May 8, 2025, pledged that Israel will “defend ourselves alone” in response to Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

This follows a surprise deal between the United States and the Iran-backed group.

This announcement came just hours after the Israeli military launched significant airstrikes on Yemen’s international airport and other infrastructure.

The strikes were in retaliation for a Houthi missile attack targeting Israel’s main airport.

According to an Israeli official who spoke with CNN, the Israeli government was not notified in advance about the US-brokered truce, which caught them off guard.

Former President Donald Trump, who orchestrated the deal, stated that the United States would end its military operations against the Houthis.

This, he said, was in return for the group ceasing attacks on US interests in the region.

While the Houthis acknowledged the agreement, they clarified that their hostilities toward Israel would persist.

Senior Houthi leader Mohammed Ali al-Houthi described the deal as a “victory” for the group.

He suggested that it indicated a separation of US support from Israel and signified a failure on Netanyahu’s part.

In response, Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s stance, asserting on Wednesday that “Israel will defend itself by itself.”

While previous Israeli operations against the Houthis were coordinated with the United States, the recent two days of strikes were executed independently.

Netanyahu emphasized that while cooperation with the US would be welcome, Israel was prepared to act alone if necessary.

This message was shared via a video posted on social media.

Trump initially characterized the deal as a capitulation by the Houthis but revised his tone the following day, describing it as a “good outcome.”

Speaking at the White House during the swearing-in of his ambassador to China, Trump acknowledged the resilience of the Houthi group under the pressure of repeated US military action.

He even stated, “You could say there’s a lot of bravery there.

“It was amazing what they took.”

He further confirmed that the US would uphold the Houthis’ commitment to refrain from targeting American warships or commercial vessels in the region.

The agreement between the US and the Houthis sidelined Israel diplomatically, according to Dennis Ross, a former US Middle East envoy.

Ross noted that this was not an isolated incident.

Netanyahu, he explained, was similarly left uninformed when the US initiated dialogue with Hamas in March.

He disclosed that he only became aware of the renewed nuclear talks with Iran during a public announcement made by Trump in the Oval Office.

Ross argued that the truce with the Houthis exemplifies a broader trend in which Israel’s concerns have not been prioritized in Washington’s decision-making.

It remains uncertain whether the Houthis will continue launching ballistic missiles toward Israel.

However, Ross asserted that Israel did not appear to be a significant factor in the White House’s strategic calculations.

“The Trump Administration thinks about America’s interests,” Ross told CNN.

His statement implied that Israel’s security considerations were not a central element in the US decision to pursue the ceasefire.

Despite the apparent diplomatic snub, there has been no direct criticism of the White House decision from Israeli officials.

Netanyahu, who previously voiced strong opposition to some of the Biden administration’s policies, remains a prominent supporter of Trump on the international stage.

Other members of the Israeli government have also reportedly refrained from publicly condemning the US move.

They supposedly chose instead, to emphasize Israel’s steadfast commitment to defending itself.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz echoed this sentiment in a statement released Thursday, saying, “Israel must be able to defend itself by itself against any threat and any enemy.

This has been true in the face of many past challenges, and it will remain true in the future.”

His remarks reinforced the message that Israel is prepared to act unilaterally in the face of regional threats, even without American support.

Trump previously designated the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization during the final days of his first coming as president.

Former President Joe Biden revoked that designation early in his term in 2021.

However, Trump reinstated it in January, signaling a return to a more hardline stance toward the group.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook