Houthis to Limit Ship Attacks to Israeli-Linked Vessels Amid Gaza Ceasefire
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have announced they will restrict their attacks on commercial vessels to only those with links to Israel, contingent on the full implementation of a ceasefire in Gaza, Al Jazeera reports.
This development could potentially ease the significant disruptions that have plagued global maritime trade for more than a year.
The Sanaa-based Humanitarian Operations Coordination Centre (HOCC), which serves as a liaison between Houthi forces and commercial shipping operators, stated on Sunday that it is halting “sanctions” against ships owned by United States and British entities, as well as vessels flying under those nations’ flags. The HOCC clarified in an email to shipping officials that these sanctions would be reinstated should the United States, the United Kingdom, or Israel perpetrate any aggression against Yemen.
The Houthis have further stipulated that they will only cease targeting Israeli-linked ships after “the full implementation of all phases of the agreement,” a reference to the ceasefire deal reached by Israel and Hamas on Sunday to end the 15-month war in Gaza. The ceasefire is planned to unfold over three phases spanning several weeks.
Since November 2023, the Iran-backed Houthis have launched over 100 attacks on ships in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, in response to Israel’s war on Gaza. These attacks, which have resulted in the sinking of two ships and the deaths of at least four seafarers, have severely disrupted international trade along the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia, particularly around the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
Many major shipping companies suspended their routes through the Red Sea last year, opting to reroute vessels around the southern tip of Africa to avoid the risk of attacks.
The Houthis have also conducted direct attacks on Israel, prompting retaliatory strikes by the UK and the US on targets inside Yemen in an attempt to deter the rebels. Washington has also imposed sanctions on the Houthi group, while Israel has bombed Houthi-controlled power plants and ports, including the key port of Hodeidah.
Despite the relative low number of ships that have been targeted, the Houthi’s campaign has successfully driven up shipping costs, including increased insurance premiums and higher wages for sailors working in the high-risk area.
Although this latest announcement provides a glimmer of hope, executives in the retail and insurance sectors told Reuters last week that they are hesitant to return to the Red Sea, citing uncertainty over whether the Houthis will adhere to their pledge and halt future attacks.
