Yemen’s Houthi rebels signal that they’ve stopped attacks on Israel and Red Sea shipping
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Yemen’s Houthi rebels signal they are halting their attacks Attacks on Israel and shipping in the Red Sea aspect shaky truce It is located in the Gaza Strip.
In an undated letter to Hamas’ Qassam Brigades, published online by the group, the Houthis gave their clearest signal that their offensive has stopped.
The letter from the Houthi army’s chief of staff, Major General Yusuf Hasan al-Madani, says, “We are closely following the developments and declare that if the enemy continues its aggression against Gaza, we will return to our military operations deep within the Zionist presence and reimpose Israel’s navigation ban in the Red and Oman Seas.”
The Houthis did not make an official statement that their operations in the region were stopped.
Israeli army carrying out attacks killing of senior Houthi leadersHe declined to comment when reached by The Associated Press on Tuesday. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened to hit the Houthis “sevenfold” for attacks targeting Israel in September. Drone attack on Eilat injured 22 people.
The Houthis gained international notoriety for their attacks on ships and Israel during the Israel-Hamas war, attacks they said were aimed at forcing Israel to stop the war. Since then Ceasefire started on October 10No attacks were claimed by the rebel group.
While the Houthis insist their campaign targeted Israeli-bound ships, the ships attacked had limited, if any, relevance to the Israel-Hamas war.
The campaign saw at least nine sailors killed and four ships sunk. This is upside down Shipping in the Red SeaBefore the war, approximately $1 trillion worth of goods passed through each year. of the rebels latest attack On September 29, the Dutch-flagged cargo ship crashed into the Minervagracht, killing one of the crew members and injuring the other.
The attacks greatly disrupted passage through Egypt’s Suez Canal, which connects the Red Sea to the Mediterranean. The canal remains one of Egypt’s largest providers of foreign exchange. It will provide it with $10 billion in 2023 as its broader economy struggles. In July, the International Monetary Fund said Houthi attacks “reduce foreign currency inflows through the Suez Canal by $6 billion in 2024.”
Although traffic has increased slightly recently due to a lull in attacks, many shippers continue to navigate Africa via the Cape of Good Hope to avoid the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
USA started an intense bombing campaign targeting rebels Earlier this year, President Donald Trump took a break just before his trip to the Middle East. The Biden administration has also launched attacks against the Houthis. Uses America’s B-2 bombers Targeting what it describes as underground bunkers used by the Houthis.
Meanwhile, the Houthis are increasingly threatening Saudi Arabia and Dozens of workers from UN agencies and other aid groups were taken away As prisoners, they claimed to be spies without any evidence; this was something strongly denied by the UN and others.
