What's happened
Yemen's Houthis have indicated a pause in their attacks on shipping and Israel, aligning with the Gaza ceasefire. However, they have not officially declared an end to their campaign, warning of resumption if Gaza is attacked again. The group’s actions have impacted Red Sea shipping and detained UN staff.
What's behind the headline?
The Houthis' recent signals of halting attacks are likely a strategic move to avoid escalation during the Gaza ceasefire. Their warning of resuming hostilities if Gaza is attacked again suggests they are leveraging their regional influence to pressure Israel and its allies. The disruption of Red Sea shipping, through which a significant portion of global trade passes, underscores the broader geopolitical risks. The group's detention of UN staff and threats against aid workers reveal a complex mix of political motives and regional power plays. This pause may be temporary, with the potential for renewed conflict if regional tensions escalate, impacting global trade and Middle Eastern stability.
What the papers say
Al Jazeera reports that the Houthis have indicated a halt in their maritime attacks but have not officially declared a ceasefire, warning of a return to hostilities if Gaza is attacked again. The New Arab confirms the group’s signals of stopping attacks, noting no recent claims of violence since October 10. The Times of Israel highlights the group's history of attacking Israel and maritime targets, with recent attacks killing mariners and sinking ships, and notes Israel's response. AP News emphasizes the group's strategic warnings and the broader regional implications, including their detention of UN staff and threats against aid workers, illustrating the complex regional dynamics at play.
How we got here
The Houthis began attacking Israel and maritime targets in November 2023, in solidarity with Palestinians amid Israel's war on Gaza. Their campaign included missile strikes and attacks on ships, disrupting Red Sea shipping routes and affecting Egypt's Suez Canal revenues. The conflict has deepened Yemen's humanitarian crisis, with the Houthis also detaining UN personnel and accusing them of espionage, which the UN denies.
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Common question
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What is the current status of the Red Sea ceasefire?
The recent developments in the Red Sea region have raised many questions about the stability of the ceasefire and the potential for renewed conflict. With the Houthis signaling a possible halt to attacks against Israel and maritime targets, people are wondering what this means for regional peace. In this page, we explore the latest updates, what could cause a return to hostilities, and how these tensions fit into the broader Middle East conflict.
More on these topics
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen, is a country at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is the second-largest Arab sovereign state in the peninsula, occupying 527,970 square kilometres.
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The Gaza Strip, or simply Gaza, is a self-governing Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, that borders Egypt on the southwest for 11 kilometers and Israel on the east and north along a 51 km border.
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The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden.