DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Yemen's Houthi rebels have announced a decision to limit their attacks in the vital Red Sea corridor to ships affiliated with Israel, coinciding with a fragile ceasefire in the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. This revelation was communicated in an email sent to shippers and stakeholders on Sunday and is expected to be followed by a formal military statement from the Houthis on Monday, according to reports from AP News and India Times.

The Houthis emphasized that they are halting "sanctions" on other vessels that had previously been in their target list since their aggressive campaign began in November 2023. This campaign has already seen the rebels strike over 100 merchant vessels using missiles and drones, significantly disrupting maritime traffic in the region and impacting revenues for countries reliant on the Suez Canal for shipping operations.

However, experts caution that this announcement may not suffice to reassure international shipping firms, as the region has seen a sharp decline in traffic due to ongoing hostilities. Jakob P. Larsen, head of maritime security for BIMCO, remarked, "The ceasefire is considered fragile. It is assessed that even minor deviations from the ceasefire agreements could lead to hostilities." He noted that attacks have already resulted in the deaths of four sailors and the sinking of two vessels.

While the Houthis claim to stop attacks on Israeli-linked ships, they have left room for potential resumption of hostilities toward vessels from the United States and the United Kingdom, particularly if these nations continue airstrikes against them. “In the event of any aggression ... the sanctions will be reinstated against the aggressor state,” warned the Houthis’ statement.

Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October 2023, the Houthis have maintained a campaign against not just Israeli shipping but also vessels unrelated to the conflict, often justifying their actions as a means to pressure Israel to cease its military operations in Gaza. This development prompts further questions about the future of maritime security in a region already fraught with tensions as international forces remain vigilant on the movement of trade and naval vessels.

As the situation develops, it is critical to monitor the actions taken by both the Houthis and international shipping companies navigating the treacherous waters of the Red Sea corridor.