Red Sea Respite: Houthi Attacks Fizzle as Tensions Shift Within Yemen

• Houthi attacks on ships were significantly reduced for two days.
• Houthis attempted to capture an air defense post.
• Houthis previously threatened attacks on coalition forces.

Even though the Houthi militia in Yemen has threatened to assault US-led multinational task forces keeping an eye on the vital trade route, they have drastically reduced their attacks on ships in the Red Sea.

On Thursday, the number of Houthi strikes was zero for the second day in a row. No new attacks on commercial or navy vessels were reported by the US Central Command or the UK Maritime Trade Operations.

The most recent alert from the UKMTO came early on Tuesday, alerting authorities to the arrival of a “suspicious” vessel 80 nautical miles northeast of Djibouti.

Iran-supported The Houthis have taken control of a commercial ship and threatened to stop any ships sailing toward Israel from entering the Red Sea. Additionally, the militia has attacked ships with drones and ballistic missiles in an effort to force Israel to end its blockade of Gaza.

In order to defend the Red Sea, a vital conduit for international trade, from Houthi threats, the US is in charge of a multinational coalition task force. Some maritime companies have rerouted their ships away from the area due to militia attacks.

If Yemen is invaded, the Houthis have threatened to target US-led naval forces.

The decrease in Houthi Red Sea strikes coincides with a resurgence of hostilities in the southern city of Taiz between the militia and Yemeni government forces.

The Houthis’ attack on an air defense post west of Taiz, according to the Yemeni army on Thursday, is the latest attempt by the group to take control of military installations within the besieged city.

Soldiers repelled the Houthi assault, an army statement stated. Since the start of a cease-fire mediated by the UN in April 2022, hostilities have generally decreased.

Amnesty International, meanwhile, demanded on Wednesday that the Houthis free six members of the Baha’i community, a minority religion that includes a woman, citing the high risk of abuse at the hands of their captors.

17 people were taken into custody after armed Houthis attacked a Baha’i gathering in Sanaa on May 25. Eleven were freed in response to international pressure.

“Amnesty International calls on the Houthi de facto authorities to immediately and unconditionally release the remaining six Baha’i detainees as they are detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their human rights,” the rights group said in a statement.

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