Yemen’s Houthi rebels have indicated a cessation of their assaults on Israel and maritime vessels in the Red Sea as a fragile truce persists in the Gaza Strip. In an undated message to Hamas’ Qassam Brigades shared online by the group, the Houthis conveyed their strongest indication yet that their attacks have ceased.
“We are closely observing the situation and affirm that if the enemy resumes its hostilities against Gaza, we will resume our military activities deep within the Zionist territory and reimpose the prohibition on Israeli navigation in the Red and Arabian Seas,” stated the letter from Maj.-Gen. Yusuf Hassan al-Madani, the Houthi military’s chief of staff. Despite this communication, the Houthis have not officially acknowledged the halt of their operations in the region.
Israel’s military, which has targeted and eliminated senior Houthi leaders in attacks, refrained from commenting when contacted by The Associated Press on Tuesday. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz had previously warned of retaliating against the Houthis “sevenfold” for their assaults on Israel, following a drone strike in Eilat that injured 22 individuals.
The Houthis gained global attention during the Israel-Hamas conflict due to their assaults on Israeli-affiliated vessels and Israel itself, with the aim of compelling Israel to cease hostilities. Since the ceasefire commenced on October 10, the rebel group has not claimed any attacks. Although the Houthis asserted that their campaign targeted vessels associated with Israel, the targeted ships had minimal, if any, connection to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The attacks have resulted in at least nine fatalities among seafarers and the sinking of four ships, disrupting maritime traffic in the Red Sea, a crucial route for goods amounting to around $1 trillion annually before the conflict. The most recent attack targeted the Dutch-flagged cargo ship Minervagracht on September 29, leading to the death of one crew member and injuring another.
The assaults significantly impacted transits through Egypt’s Suez Canal, which links the Red Sea to the Mediterranean. The canal is a major revenue source for Egypt, providing $10 billion in 2023 amid economic challenges. The International Monetary Fund noted that the Houthi attacks caused a $6 billion reduction in foreign exchange inflows from the Suez Canal in 2024.
Although traffic has slightly increased during the lull in attacks, many shipping companies opt to circumvent Africa via the Cape of Good Hope to avoid the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The U.S. conducted a vigorous bombing campaign against the rebels earlier this year, which was halted by President Donald Trump before his Middle East visit. The Biden administration also carried out strikes on the Houthis, utilizing B-2 bombers to target underground bunkers utilized by the rebel group.