Iran-Backed Houthis Pledge to Limit Red Sea Attacks to Israeli Ships Amid Ceasefire
The Houthis communicated their
decision via email to global shipping companies, which remain skeptical about the insurgents’ assurances of safe passage. The message came from the so-called “Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center” (HOCC), a Houthi-created entity that regularly communicates threats to maritime operators. Over the past year, the Houthis have carried out 134 attacks on commercial vessels, employing weapons ranging from ballistic missiles to explosive-laden remote-controlled boats. The group frames these actions as part of a “humanitarian” mission in solidarity with the Palestinians.
In previous correspondence, the HOCC has used personal email addresses of corporate executives to warn against docking at Israeli ports, threatening potential strikes on vessels perceived as hostile.
Sunday’s email stated that the “Yemeni Armed Forces”—the Houthis’ self-designation despite their lack of international legitimacy—would suspend operations against non-Israeli vessels due to the Gaza ceasefire. However, it reiterated that Israeli ships remain prohibited from navigating the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean until the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and leading to the Suez Canal, has seen a significant reduction in traffic due to Houthi aggression. This has slashed Egyptian revenue from canal tolls and increased global shipping costs.
“We trust you understand that our actions reflect religious, humanitarian, and moral obligations toward the oppressed Palestinian people,” the Houthis said in their statement.
Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi reaffirmed the group’s readiness for future conflict in a speech on Monday, vowing immediate action if Israel resumes hostilities or imposes a blockade on Gaza. “We stand ready to escalate again in solidarity with our brothers in Palestine,” he declared.
Jakob P. Larsen, head of maritime security for the BIMCO shipowners’ association, told the Associated Press that the Houthis could renew attacks if President Donald Trump reinstates the Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) designation that President Joe Biden rescinded in early 2021.
“It remains to be seen how the Trump administration will approach the conflict with the Houthis and whether more severe punitive measures will be applied,” Larsen said.
Since the Biden administration lifted the FTO designation, the Houthis have committed numerous acts of terrorism and human rights violations, including attacks on commercial shipping. Facing mounting pressure, Biden reimposed a weaker “global terrorist” label on the group in January 2024 following a series of Red Sea incidents.
On Friday, Republican senators introduced the Dismantle Iran’s Proxy Act to restore the full FTO designation for the Houthis, freezing their assets and criminalizing material support for the group.
“Re-designating the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization is long overdue,” said Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). “Since the horrific events of October 7, 2023, the Houthis have worked alongside Iran’s other proxies to attack Israel and destabilize the region.”