US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday the U.S. will stop bombing the Houthis in Yemen, saying that the Iran-aligned group had agreed to stop interrupting important shipping lanes in the Middle East. The U.S. intensified strikes on Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis this year, to stop attacks on Red Sea shipping. Rights activists have raised concerns over civilian casualties. In an Oval Office meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump announced the Houthis have said they no longer want to fight. "They said please don't bomb us any more and we're not going to attack your ships," Trump said. "And I will accept their word, and we are going to stop the bombing of the Houthis effective immediately."