DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Yemen’s Houthi rebels are indicating that they have paused attacks on Israel and commercial vessels in the Red Sea as the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip continues to hold.
In an undated letter addressed to Hamas’ Qassam Brigades and posted online, the Houthis offered their clearest sign so far that their regional campaign has stopped. The message, signed by Maj. Gen. Yusuf Hassan al Madani, the group’s military chief of staff, said the rebels are “closely monitoring developments” and warned that operations would resume if Israel renews its offensive in Gaza.
Israel’s military, which has carried out strikes that killed senior Houthi leaders, declined to comment when contacted by The Associated Press. Defense Minister Israel Katz had warned in September that Israel would respond “sevenfold” to Houthi attacks after a drone strike on Eilat wounded 22 people.
The Houthis gained international attention during the Israel-Hamas war after launching missiles and drones toward Israel and targeting ships in the Red Sea, actions they said were intended to pressure Israel to halt its operations. Since the ceasefire began on Oct. 10, the group has not claimed any new attacks.
Although the Houthis claimed to target vessels linked to Israel, many of the affected ships had little or no connection to the conflict. Their campaign killed at least nine mariners, sank four ships, and disrupted a key global trade corridor that previously carried about one trillion dollars worth of goods each year.
Global Seafaring Impact
The Houthi attacks have deeply shaken the international maritime industry. Shipping companies rerouted thousands of vessels away from the Red Sea toward the longer and more expensive route around the Cape of Good Hope, adding weeks to delivery times and sharply increasing fuel and insurance costs. Crews faced heightened risks, and some shipping firms temporarily suspended Red Sea operations, straining global supply chains and pushing up costs for exporters and consumers.
The attacks also cut vessel traffic through Egypt’s Suez Canal, one of the world’s most important waterways and a major source of hard currency for Egypt. The canal generated ten billion dollars in 2023. The International Monetary Fund reported in July that foreign exchange inflows from the canal fell by six billion dollars in 2024 due to the rerouting of ships.
While traffic has improved somewhat during the current lull, many maritime companies continue to avoid the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, citing safety and insurance concerns.
The United States has carried out multiple strikes against Houthi targets. An aggressive bombing campaign earlier this year was paused by President Donald Trump ahead of a trip to the Middle East, while the Biden administration later conducted its own series of attacks, including using B-2 bombers against what officials said were underground Houthi facilities.
At the same time, the Houthis have escalated their threats against Saudi Arabia and detained dozens of employees of United Nations agencies and aid groups, accusing them without evidence of espionage. The United Nations and humanitarian organizations strongly deny the allegations.
