Yemen’s Houthi insurgents appear to have ceased their assaults on Israel and Red Sea shipping as a fragile truce holds in Gaza. In an unspecified letter to Hamas’ Qassam Brigades published online by the group, the Houthis provided their clearest indication yet that their attacks have ceased. Maj.-Gen. Yusuf Hassan al-Madani, the Houthi military’s chief of staff, stated, “We are closely monitoring developments and declare that if the enemy resumes its aggression against Gaza, we will return to our military operations deep inside the Zionist entity, and we will reinstate the ban on Israeli navigation in the Red and Arabian Seas.”
The Houthis have not formally acknowledged the cessation of their operations in the region. Israel’s military, which has targeted senior Houthi leaders in attacks, chose not to comment when contacted by The Associated Press. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz had previously warned of a severe response to Houthi attacks on Israel, following a drone strike on Eilat that injured 22 people.
During the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Houthis gained global attention for their assaults on shipping and Israel, allegedly in a bid to compel Israel to cease hostilities. No attacks have been attributed to the rebel group since the ceasefire began on Oct. 10. Despite the Houthis claiming their campaign targeted Israel-linked vessels, the ships attacked had little to no connection to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The attacks have resulted in at least nine deaths of sailors and the sinking of four ships, disrupting Red Sea shipping, which previously facilitated around $1 trillion in goods annually.
The most recent attack by the rebels was on the Dutch-flagged cargo ship Minervagracht on Sept. 29, resulting in the death of one crew member and injuries to another. The assaults have significantly impacted traffic through the Suez Canal in Egypt, a vital source of revenue for the country, contributing $10 billion in 2023 amid economic challenges. The International Monetary Fund reported that the Houthi attacks caused a $6 billion reduction in foreign exchange inflows from the Suez Canal in 2024.
Although ship traffic has slightly increased in recent times due to the reduction in attacks, many shipping companies opt to bypass the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden by sailing around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope. The U.S. conducted extensive airstrikes against the rebels earlier in the year, with President Donald Trump halting the campaign before his Middle East visit. The Biden administration also launched strikes against the Houthis, utilizing B-2 bombers to target alleged underground bunkers used by the insurgents.
