In a significant development, Yemen’s Houthi movement has indicated a potential halt to its attacks on Israel and vessels in the Red Sea, contingent on a sustained ceasefire in Gaza. This stance was articulated in a letter posted on X (formerly Twitter) by the group, marking a potential shift in their two-year-long conflict strategy. The letter, addressed to Hamas by Major General Yusuf Hassan al-Madani, the Houthi military’s chief of staff, praised Hamas for its resilience and claimed victory over ‘the strongest empires of money, faith, and technology.’ The undated letter, shared on Sunday, also expressed gratitude for Hamas’s condolences following the death of the Houthis’ military chief of staff, Major General Mohammed Abdul Karim al-Ghamari, who was reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike. While the exact timing of the attack remains unclear, Israeli officials suggested it occurred in August. The letter emphasized that the Houthis would resume military operations against Israel and reinstate the ban on Israeli navigation in the Red and Arabian Seas if hostilities in Gaza resumed. The Houthis began targeting Israel after its invasion of Gaza in response to the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attacks. By late 2023, the group expanded its attacks to include vessels in the Red Sea, initially focusing on Israeli ships but later broadening their scope to include US and Western-linked vessels. Experts noted that the Houthis used ship-tracking data to avoid targeting Gulf-linked ships and those associated with Russia and China. Russia reportedly saw an opportunity to support the Houthis, deploying advisors and considering the provision of advanced anti-ship cruise missiles. Iran, a key backer of the Houthis, has provided arms and training, aligning the group with the so-called ‘axis of resistance’ alongside Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iraqi militias. The Houthis briefly ceased maritime attacks during a short-lived Gaza truce in January but resumed missile strikes on Israel after the ceasefire collapsed in March. US President Donald Trump launched a bombing campaign against the Houthis, which ended on May 6 following Saudi Arabia’s lobbying efforts. Saudi Arabia, currently in a fragile truce with the Houthis, is negotiating a political settlement, including discussions on paying salaries for government employees in Houthi-controlled territories. The Houthis shared the letter on X just days before Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s scheduled visit to Washington, signaling a broader commitment to de-escalation. While the group has adhered to its ceasefire with the US, it continued attacks on Israel until the Gaza ceasefire was signed in October. Maritime attacks in the Red Sea intensified in the summer following Israeli strikes on Iran, with the Houthis sinking two vessels with tertiary links to Israel. The Eternity C, one of the targeted ships, lost its war risk coverage from its US-based insurer, Travelers, before its ill-fated passage.
Houthis signal end of attacks on Israel and vessels in Red Sea after Gaza ceasefire
