By Ismaeel Naar
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have announced that they would scale back their attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, targeting only those they see as having direct links to Israel, following the implementation of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, according to an email sent by the group to shipping companies and others.
The Houthis said they would target vessels “wholly owned by Israeli individuals or entities and/or sailing under the Israeli flag.” The group added that it would stop targeting all ships “upon the full implementation of all phases” of the ceasefire agreement.
But in the email dated Sunday and sent by a Houthi-linked group that communicates with the shipping industry, the Houthis warned that if the United States or Britain directly attacked Yemen, they would resume their assaults on vessels associated with these countries.
A military spokesperson for the Houthis, Yahya Saree, said that another statement was planned for later Monday, which was expected to elaborate on the decision.
Since November 2023, the Houthis have been launching missiles at Israel and targeting commercial vessels they believe are headed for Israel, in what they say is a show of solidarity with Hamas, their Iran-backed ally in Gaza.
The attacks have severely disrupted global shipping trade through the Red Sea, a key route for traffic between Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Many shipping companies have rerouted their cargo around the Cape of Good Hope, located at the southern tip of Africa. This alternative path has added approximately 4,000 miles and 10 additional days to shipping journeys, requiring significantly more fuel.
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