Bipartisan House Members Warn U.S.-Houthi Deal Endangers Israel

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers has strongly criticized the Trump administration’s recent ceasefire arrangement with the Iran-backed Houthi terror group in Yemen. The legislators argue the deal leaves Israel exposed and fails to confront the broader threat posed by Iranian proxies.

The letter, led by Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Don Bacon (R-NE), was sent to President Donald Trump and Secretary of State and acting National Security Advisor Marco Rubio. It represents growing congressional discontent with the agreement, which had already prompted skepticism from several senators when it was first announced.

“We are writing to express our serious concern over the agreement reached on May 6 with the Iranian-backed Houthi forces in Yemen, which halts U.S. strikes against Houthi targets without addressing the threat to Israel,” the Congressmen wrote. “Shortly after the announcement, the Houthis declared their intent to continue targeting Israeli civilians, despite the agreement with the United States,” the letter continued.

“This decision leaves Israel dangerously vulnerable and fails to confront the broader threat posed by Iran’s proxy network.”

The lawmakers warned that the ceasefire, announced just days after a Houthi strike on Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport complex, sends a damaging signal to both allies and adversaries that U.S. deterrence can be compromised and that attacks on American allies might go unanswered.

They further argued that the agreement does not address the core issue: Iran’s continued supply of weapons, intelligence, and training to the Houthis. Without directly targeting Tehran’s support lines, the lawmakers said, any deal with the Houthis amounts to a temporary halt in violence, not a sustainable solution, and leaves Israel vulnerable.

The group called on the administration to work in tandem with Israel to ensure any future military or diplomatic actions prioritize Israeli security and do not inadvertently strengthen Iran’s regional proxies.

They requested a full briefing on the administration’s long-term strategy, along with complete details of what President Trump described as a “handshake deal.” The lawmakers also asked for an assessment of the Houthis’ current capacity to threaten Israel and a report on how Iran continues to support the group’s operations.

In addition to Gottheimer and Bacon, the letter was signed by Reps. Dan Goldman (D-NY), Tom Suozzi (D-NY), and Greg Stanton (D-AZ).