Yemen’s Houthi rebels have signaled they will limit their attacks in the Red Sea corridor to only Israeli-affiliated ships, following a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. However, they warned that wider assaults could resume if needed.
The Houthis made the announcement via an email sent on Sunday, stating that sanctions would be lifted for non-Israeli affiliated vessels. The move is seen as a fragile truce, and many in the shipping industry remain cautious.
“The ceasefire is considered fragile,” said Jakob P. Larsen, head of maritime security for BIMCO. “Even minor deviations from the ceasefire agreements could lead to hostilities, prompting the Houthis to again target a broader range of international shipping.”
The Houthis’ supreme leader, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, warned that they would intervene immediately if Israel resumed any escalation or committed acts of genocide in Gaza.
A military statement by the Houthis is planned for Monday, which may discuss their decision. However, the center left open resuming attacks against the US and UK, which have launched airstrikes targeting the rebels.
The shipping industry remains uncertain about the Houthi pledge. “The coming weeks will provide the proof of whether the Houthi follow through with their stated intent,” warned Ambrey.
The Houthis have targeted over 100 merchant vessels since the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, killing four sailors and sinking two vessels. The Iranian-backed rebels target ships linked to Israel, the US, or the UK to force an end to Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-red-sea-israel-5f3ec9fa14704a4ffba3e021c4b15446