The Houthis said on Sunday that they will halt attacks on non-Israeli shipping following the ceasefire deal for Gaza.
The Yemeni militant group said that wholly owned Israeli ships or Israeli-flagged vessels were not included in its announcement, but those attacks also would stop after all phases of the peace deal were in place.
The Houthis said they would lift “sanctions” against vessels operated by Israeli companies, ships heading to ports in the country or those linked to the US and Britain, according to an emailed statement from its operations centre.
“We affirm that, in the event of any aggression against the Republic of Yemen by the United States of America, the United Kingdom or the usurping Israeli entity, the sanctions will be reinstated against the aggressor states,” the group said.
“You will be promptly informed of such measures should they be implemented.”
The Houthi armed forces said that Israeli-owned ships would remain barred from transiting the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean “at present”.
“Sanctions on them [Israeli-owned ships] will be stopped upon the full implementation of all phases of the agreement,” the Houthis said. “We will keep you updated on any changes regarding this matter.”
The Gaza deal agreed last week envisages a three-stage process that starts with some hostage releases and the withdrawal of Israeli troops, followed by a permanent ceasefire and reopening of borders.
The statement is the first significant announcement on ending the attacks after a campaign that has lasted for more than a year, left four seafarers dead, sunk two ships, left the region on the brink of an environmental catastrophe and forced shipping to reroute via southern Africa.
It also raises hopes for the release of the 25 crew members still being held following the seizure of the 5,100-ceu car carrier Galaxy Leader (built 2002) in November 2023.
War risk insurance rates have eased off from highs at the end of 2024 as Houthi attacks lessened and more companies stepped in to provide cover.
The industry has begun talking about ships heading back to the region, although senior players warned it would be naive to return immediately.
“Provided the ceasefire holds, and the Houthi signal their intent to honour it, a return of shipping to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait will occur gradually,” security firm Ambrey Analytics said in a briefing paper last week.
Read more
- Container lines will let tankers and bulkers test Red Sea waters after ceasefire, Jefferies says
- Houthi leader warns of new attacks at first sign of Gaza ceasefire violation
- Big boost for crude tankers as Kazakh exports set to rise from Russian terminal
- Hapag-Lloyd takes $1bn hit as European shares hammered by Gaza ceasefire news
