Middle East: Yemen's Houthis Halt Red Sea Ship Attacks, But Israeli Vessels Remain In Crosshairs Amid Gaza Ceasefire Deal

Yemen's Houthi rebels on Monday (20 January) announced a major shift in their operations in the Red Sea corridor, signalling that they will cease targeting non-Israeli ships following the fragile ceasefire resolution in the Gaza Strip.

However, they emphasised that Israeli-affiliated vessels remain under threat, warning of potential escalation should the ceasefire falter.

The Houthis’ decision comes after months of attacks that have severely disrupted maritime traffic, cutting Red Sea passage by half and slashing Egypt's revenues from the Suez Canal, a vital global trade artery. Despite the recent pause in broader assaults, the Houthis have clarified their readiness to resume wider operations if circumstances demand.

“The ceasefire is considered fragile,” noted Jakob P Larsen, head of maritime security for BIMCO, the leading association for international shipowners. “Even minor deviations from the ceasefire agreements could lead to hostilities, which would subsequently prompt the Houthis to again direct threats against a broader range of international shipping.”

Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the group’s supreme leader, reinforced this stance in a televised speech, stating, “We are maintaining constant readiness to intervene immediately should the Israeli enemy resume any escalation, commit acts of genocide, impose a siege on Gaza, or deny food and medicine to the people of Gaza. We are ready to return to escalation again alongside our brothers, the fighters in Palestine.”

Since November 2023, the Houthis have targeted over 100 merchant ships using missiles and drones, significantly escalating tensions in the region following Hamas' attack on Israel in October 2023.

Although U.S. airstrikes—over 260 in total—have slowed the frequency of Houthi attacks in recent weeks, they continue to target Israeli ships.

In their announcement, the Houthis stated that "sanctions" against non-Israeli vessels would cease but warned that any deviation from the ceasefire terms could reverse this policy. “Sanctions … will be stopped upon the full implementation of all phases of the ceasefire,” their Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center said.