Houthis to Limit Red Sea Attacks to Israeli Ships Following Ceasefire

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Yemen's Houthi rebels have indicated they will restrict their attacks in the Red Sea to vessels affiliated with Israel, a move that comes as a fragile ceasefire in Gaza began Jan. 19.

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The announcement, made in an email to shipping companies and other stakeholders, signals a shift in the Houthis' strategy. However, the move is unlikely to reassure international shipping companies that have been avoiding the region due to security concerns.

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The Red Sea corridor, a vital route for global trade connecting Asia with Europe, has seen a dramatic decline in traffic since the Houthis escalated their attacks. In addition, the Houthis have a poor track record when it comes to accurately identifying ships, which raises significant concerns for vessel operators amid the fragile ceasefire.

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The Houthis did leave the door open for resuming attackson the U.S. and the U.K. if they perceive aggression from these nations, both of which have carried out airstrikes against the rebels in response to their seaborne assaults.

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Since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, the Iran-backed Houthis have launched missile and drone strikes against more than 100 merchant vessels.

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Read More at Reuters

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