Houthis Announce Reduced Attacks on Red Sea Shipping

Yemen's Houthi rebels have announced a reduction in their attacks on merchant shipping in the Red Sea, coinciding with a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Houthi spokesperson Mohammed al-Bukhaiti indicated that while attacks on ships linked to Israel will continue, vessels that are not associated with Israel will no longer be targeted. This decision aims to alleviate disruptions to global shipping caused by Houthi attacks, which had forced vessels to reroute around Africa, leading to increased costs and environmental impacts. Shipping experts caution that a full return to Red Sea routes may take 1-2 months due to the complexities of the shipping networks, despite an anticipated significant drop in freight rates as normal operations resume. The Houthis' statement leaves open the possibility of renewed attacks against U.S. and U.K. vessels, depending on the situation in Gaza. Overall, the situation remains delicate, and the shipping industry is closely monitoring developments in the region.