diff --git a/api_server.py b/api_server.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8a0c2af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api_server.py
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+"""Simple HTTP API for the Matrix Bridge.
+
+Provides endpoints for agents and scheduled tasks to interact
+with the bridge without going through the Matrix protocol.
+
+Endpoints:
+    GET  /session-id  — Return the current bridge session ID
+    POST /send        — Send a text message to the configured Matrix room
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import json
+import logging
+import threading
+from http.server import HTTPServer, BaseHTTPRequestHandler
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from bridge import Bridge
+
+log = logging.getLogger("matrix-bridge.api")
+
+
+class _Handler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
+    """HTTP handler that delegates to a shared bridge reference."""
+
+    # Set once before the server starts — shared across all requests.
+    bridge: Optional["Bridge"] = None
+
+    # ── Helpers ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+    def _send_json(self, status: int, data: dict) -> None:
+        """Send a JSON response with the given status code."""
+        body = json.dumps(data).encode("utf-8")
+        self.send_response(status)
+        self.send_header("Content-Type", "application/json")
+        self.send_header("Content-Length", str(len(body)))
+        self.end_headers()
+        self.wfile.write(body)
+
+    def _read_body(self) -> Optional[dict]:
+        """Read and parse the request body as JSON."""
+        try:
+            length = int(self.headers.get("Content-Length", 0))
+        except (ValueError, TypeError):
+            return None
+        if length <= 0:
+            return None
+        raw = self.rfile.read(length)
+        try:
+            return json.loads(raw)
+        except json.JSONDecodeError:
+            return None
+
+    # ── Routes ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+    def do_GET(self) -> None:
+        if self.path == "/session-id":
+            if self.bridge is None:
+                self._send_json(503, {"error": "Bridge not initialized"})
+                return
+            sid = self.bridge.state.session_id
+            self._send_json(200, {"session_id": sid})
+        else:
+            self._send_json(404, {"error": f"Not found: {self.path}"})
+
+    def do_POST(self) -> None:
+        if self.path == "/send":
+            if self.bridge is None:
+                self._send_json(503, {"error": "Bridge not initialized"})
+                return
+
+            body = self._read_body()
+            if body is None:
+                self._send_json(400, {"error": "Invalid or missing JSON body"})
+                return
+
+            message = body.get("message")
+            if not message or not isinstance(message, str):
+                self._send_json(400, {"error": "Missing or invalid 'message' field"})
+                return
+
+            success = self.bridge.matrix.send_message(message)
+            if success:
+                self._send_json(200, {"ok": True})
+            else:
+                self._send_json(500, {"error": "Failed to send Matrix message"})
+        else:
+            self._send_json(404, {"error": f"Not found: {self.path}"})
+
+    # ── Silence default logging ───────────────────────────────────────
+
+    def log_message(self, format: str, *args) -> None:
+        log.debug(f"HTTP: {format % args}")
+
+
+def start_api_server(
+    bridge: "Bridge", host: str = "127.0.0.1", port: int = 8082
+) -> None:
+    """Start the API HTTP server in a background daemon thread.
+
+    The server runs until the main process exits.  It provides a
+    lightweight JSON API on ``host:port`` for other components to
+    query the bridge state or trigger Matrix messages.
+    """
+    _Handler.bridge = bridge
+    server = HTTPServer((host, port), _Handler)
+    server.timeout = 1.0  # Allows clean shutdown without dedicated stop
+
+    thread = threading.Thread(
+        target=server.serve_forever,
+        name=f"api-{host}:{port}",
+        daemon=True,
+    )
+    thread.start()
+    log.info(f"API server listening on http://{host}:{port}")
diff --git a/config.json b/config.json
index 152421d..dc496fa 100644
--- a/config.json
+++ b/config.json
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
     "agent_retries": 3,
     "max_message_length": 40000,
     "processed_ids_limit": 200,
-    "agent_response_timeout": 300
+    "agent_response_timeout": 300,
+    "api_host": "127.0.0.1",
+    "api_port": 8082
   }
 }
diff --git a/config.py b/config.py
index 92ef16f..049cadf 100644
--- a/config.py
+++ b/config.py
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ class BridgeConfig:
     max_message_length: int = 40000
     processed_ids_limit: int = 200
     agent_response_timeout: int = 300
+    api_host: str = "127.0.0.1"
+    api_port: int = 8082
 
 
 @dataclass
diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index 50eab59..0bf8ad9 100644
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import sys
 
 from config import Config
 from bridge import Bridge
+from api_server import start_api_server
 
 
 def setup_logging(debug: bool = False) -> None:
@@ -61,6 +62,9 @@ def main() -> None:
     # Create and run the bridge
     bridge = Bridge(config)
 
+    # Start the API server (daemon thread, non-blocking)
+    start_api_server(bridge, config.bridge.api_host, config.bridge.api_port)
+
     # Verify agent API is reachable
     if bridge.agent._request("GET", "/api/sessions") is not None:
         log.info("Agent API is reachable")