 "Is Red Sea safe for ships again? Houthis signal green, but with a threat to turn it red if…")
The Red Sea may finally see calm after two years of turmoil as Yemen’s Houthi rebels have signalled a halt to their attacks on Israel and commercial ships following the Gaza ceasefire — but warned they would “return to our military operations” if fighting resumes.
According to a Financial Times report, in a letter to Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, Houthi military chief Major General Yusuf Hassan al-Madani said, “We are closely monitoring developments and declare that if the enemy resumes its aggression against Gaza, we will return to our military operations deep inside the Zionist entity, and we will reinstate the ban on Israeli navigation in the Red and Arabian Seas.”
The letter, posted on X by the Houthis’ spokesperson on Sunday, marks the group’s first signal that its Red Sea campaign could be ending — though no formal announcement has been made.
The Iran-backed militants began launching missiles and drones at Israel after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, claiming solidarity with Palestinians. Their operations crippled shipping through the Red Sea — one of the world’s busiest trade routes — and left Israel’s southern port of Eilat largely dormant.
US and Israeli forces responded with a series of airstrikes throughout 2024 and early 2025.
US President Donald Trump said in May the Houthis had “capitulated,” though attacks continued. Israel has also carried out targeted strikes in Yemen, killing the Houthis’ military chief of staff and the group’s prime minister in separate operations.
Quick Reads
View AllOver the past two years, at least nine people have died and four ships have sunk due to Houthi attacks, which disrupted traffic through Egypt’s Suez Canal and cost the country an estimated $6 billion in lost revenue, according to the IMF.
The most recent strike hit the Dutch-flagged Minervagracht in September, killing one crew member. Analysts warn the threat is not over.
“The situation in the Red Sea remains extremely fragile,” FT quoted Martin Kelly of maritime intelligence firm EOS Risk as saying.
“The issue here is [the Houthis] retain the capability and intent to attack with little to no notice,” added Kelly.
Shipping companies are expected to take a wait-and-see approach before returning to the Suez route, which many abandoned in favour of the longer Cape of Good Hope passage during the height of the attacks.
With inputs from agencies
 "‘Foolish, self-defeating’: Sheikh Hasina blasts ‘weak monarch’ Yunus for hurting India-Bangladesh ties")
 "Russia ready to resume Istanbul peace talks with Ukraine: Foreign ministry official")
 "Trump vs BBC: Will US president's defamation case hold up in court?")
 "How tattoos and clothes help families identify their loved ones in Delhi blast")
 "‘Foolish, self-defeating’: Sheikh Hasina blasts ‘weak monarch’ Yunus for hurting India-Bangladesh ties")
 "Russia ready to resume Istanbul peace talks with Ukraine: Foreign ministry official")
 "Trump vs BBC: Will US president's defamation case hold up in court?")
 "How tattoos and clothes help families identify their loved ones in Delhi blast")
