ISTANBUL

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said the United States does not require Israeli approval to reach a ceasefire deal with Yemen’s Houthis, adding that American military responses would hinge on threats to US citizens -- not necessarily Israel.

"The US isn’t required to get permission from Israel to make some type of arrangement that would get the Houthis from firing on our ships," Huckabee told Israel’s Channel 12 News in an interview excerpt aired Thursday.

His remarks came amid an Israeli backlash to a surprise ceasefire agreement announced Tuesday by President Donald Trump between the US and the Houthis — a deal struck without prior notice to Israeli officials.

Just two days earlier, a Houthi missile struck near the control tower at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, lightly wounding several people and grounding most international flights.

Within 24 hours of the announcement, the group — whose slogan calls for "death to America, death to Israel" — fired a drone at Israel, which was intercepted.

According to Huckabee, US engagement will depend on direct threats to its citizens.

"There’s 700,000 Americans living in Israel. If the Houthis want to continue doing things to Israel and they hurt an American, then it becomes our business," he said, noting conversations with both Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

Asked if US retaliation would only follow American casualties, Huckabee clarified: "It’s a matter of what becomes our immediate business."

Trump took a similar stance earlier this week, saying: "I’ll discuss that if something happens," when asked about the Houthis’ pledge to continue targeting Israel despite the ceasefire.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have launched repeated attacks on Israel and Red Sea shipping, claiming solidarity with Palestinians amid the Gaza war.

While attacks on commercial vessels largely stopped months ago, strikes on Israel resumed after a brief pause when a Gaza ceasefire collapsed in March.

In response to the recent missile attack near Tel Aviv, Israel launched a series of airstrikes targeting Houthi infrastructure in Hodeidah and reportedly disabled Sanaa International Airport in Yemen’s capital.

The US, meanwhile, has conducted over 1,000 strikes under Operation Rough Rider since March 15, targeting Houthi positions across Yemen.

One such strike on April 28 killed 68 people at a migrant center, according to Houthi media — marking one of the deadliest attacks during the campaign.