Despite Ceasefire Talks, Houthis To End Red Sea Attacks On Ships With Exceptions Against Israeli Flags

With the Gaza ceasefire in effect the Houthi has revealed that they will stop military action against international commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea, with the exception to Israeli-owned or flagged ships.

Houthi said they have lift ‘ban’ on most international vessels transiting Red Sea region apart from Israeli-owned or flagged, warning that military action by US or UK against the Houthi would see renewed targeting of vessels from these countries.

Recall that “The Galaxy Leader” and its crew continue to be held hostage.

It is over a year since the Houthi in Yemen started attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea, Bab El-Mandeb and surrounding regions, in what they claimed was support for the Palestinians in Gaza against the Israelis.

With the ceasefire in Gaza coming into force on 19 January the Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC) issued a statement that the Yemini Armed Forces would be lifting a “ban” on all except wholly Israeli-owned and flagged vessels from transiting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden region.

According to the HOCC this would see it would be ceasing to target vessels heading Israeli ports, vessels owned by the individuals or companies in the US and UK, or sailing under their flags, and vessels partially owned by Israeli individuals or entities, and vessels managed or operated by Israeli individuals or companies.

In the case of wholly Israeli-owned or flagged ships it said, “These vessels will remain prohibited from transiting the Red Sea, Bab-el-Mandeb, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean at present. Sanctions on them will be stopped upon the full implementation of all phases of the agreement.”

However, it warned that aggression by UK or US forces against Houthi held territory in Yemen could see the reinstating of sanctions, which would make US and UK vessels the subject to potential attack in the region

The attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea resulted in a large-scale re-routing of vessels transiting from Asia – Europe and the Mediterranean via the Cape of Good Hope, in particular top tier container lines. Although Houthis have claimed to only target vessels with affiliation to Israel and its allies, although the reasons for targeting certain vessels in the past has been unclear.