Yemeni rebels said, "We have a ceasefire in Gaza, so we will stop attacking U.S.-British ships."

Yemen's pro-Iran Houthi rebels have declared they will stop targeting U.S. and British ships following a cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The Houthi-run Center for Humanitarian Operations Coordination (HOOC) said in a letter to the Baltic Sea International Shipping Association (BIMCO) that it will exclude individual or group ships from the U.S. and Britain, as well as ships from both countries, from sanctions starting Wednesday.

It also warned that it would stop attacking Israeli ships if all stages of the ceasefire agreement were fully implemented, but would restore sanctions if the United States, Britain and Israel attacked Yemen.

Since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, the Houthis have attacked Western merchant ships crossing the Red Sea in the name of supporting Hamas, sinking two ships and killing at least four sailors in more than 100 attacks so far.

Merchant ships have abandoned the Red Sea route and the Suez Canal, making detours around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, as risk insurance premiums soar following the Houthi attack.

The Baltic Sea International Shipping Association said, "If the ceasefire is maintained and the U.S. refrains from using force, shipping companies are expected to gradually resume operations in the Red Sea," but added, "Uncertainty has grown due to Trump's inauguration."

White House national security adviser nominee Mike Waltz said late last month that he would re-designate the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).