Yemen’s Houthi rebels announced plans on Sunday to wind down their campaign against shipping in the Red Sea, beginning with an end to hostilities against “non-Israeli” vessels.
The Houthi statement said they would “end sanctions” against other ships they had previously attacked since November 2023. It said:
“In case of any aggression … sanctions will be reinstated against the aggressor state. You will be immediately informed of such measures if they are implemented.”
Earlier, the Houthis said they had attacked the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman in the Red Sea for the seventh time since its arrival in the region. The Ansar Allah movement also claimed massive attacks on southern and central Israel. They carried out a military operation targeting vital Israeli facilities in the Umm al-Rashrash neighbourhood. The operation was carried out using four cruise missiles and successfully achieved its objectives.
The peace agreement between Israel and Hamas was announced on January 15 by Qatar’s head of government and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who announced the conclusion of the Doha talks, which were mediated by the US, Qatar and Egypt.
On the 467th day of the Gaza war, which has killed 1,800 Israelis and more than 46,000 Palestinians, the two sides agreed terms of a three-phase peace deal. It provides for the release of about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for 97 Israeli hostages (alive and dead), as well as a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
The first phase of the deal, which will last 42 days, calls for the release of 33 Israeli military and civilian hostages, including women, children and the elderly, in exchange for 1,890 Palestinian prisoners.
