WASHINGTON—When President Trump began his military campaign against Houthi militants in mid-March, he vowed to pull out all the stops to end the militants’ attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea and nearby waters.

President Donald Trump’s ceasefire with the Houthis helps ensure a smoother trip to the Middle East next week, with the US pulling back from an ongoing conflict to focus more on business and investment deals.

Trump announced a halt to U.S. bombing in Yemen, saying the Houthis will stop attacks on American targets. Trump stated that the Houthis requested the ceasefire after his administration had successfully degraded the group's capabilities.