Yemen's Houthi rebels have halted their drone and missile attacks on Israel and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, marking a rare pause after months of maritime disruption that rattled global trade routes.

According to the Associated Press, the Houthis informed Hamas of their decision in an official letter, saying the suspension was made to support ongoing ceasefire efforts in Gaza. The move comes amid increasing international pressure, including from the United Nations and regional mediators, to de-escalate hostilities across the Red Sea corridor.

Yousef Hassan al-Madani, chief of staff of the Houthi armed forces, wrote that the group was“closely monitoring developments” and warned that if Israel resumes large-scale military operations in Gaza,“we will restart our strikes deep inside the occupied territories.”

During the height of the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Houthis gained global attention through attacks on Israeli-linked cargo ships and naval targets. Their campaign disrupted vital shipping lanes connecting Asia to Europe via the Suez Canal, forcing several major companies - including Maersk and MSC - to reroute vessels around Africa's Cape of Good Hope.

No new attacks have been reported since the October 10 ceasefire, which has provided temporary relief to global shipping and oil markets. The U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, continues to patrol the Red Sea to prevent renewed threats.

The Houthi operations, which killed at least nine sailors and sank four ships earlier this year, had raised insurance costs and sparked concerns of a wider regional conflict involving Iran, a key backer of the group.

Analysts say the current pause could open limited diplomatic channels between Tehran, Riyadh, and Western powers to stabilize Red Sea security. However, they warn that renewed Israeli strikes in Gaza could quickly reignite Houthi military operations, again threatening vital global maritime trade.

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