Houthis Violate U.S.-Houthi Ceasefire With Deadly Attacks in Red Sea

The Houthis “say they will not be blowing up ships anymore,” U.S. President Donald Trump declared when he announced the U.S.-Houthi ceasefire on May 6. Yet the agreement has lasted only two months.

On July 6, the Houthis attacked a Greek-owned commercial vessel, Magic Seas, claiming it violated the blockade on Israeli ports that the Iran-backed terrorist group is attempting to impose. The next day, the Houthis attacked another ship, this time killing four crew members and injuring more, although the numbers are not yet final. The Houthis released a video showing the sinking of Magic Seas but have yet to claim responsibility for the second attack. However, Operation Aspides, the EU force tasked with protecting Red Sea commercial shipping, and the internationally recognized government of Yemen blamed the Houthis for the second assault.

Despite an Israel-Iran ceasefire and a U.S.-Houthi ceasefire, the Houthis continue to threaten stability in the Middle East and commerce. The group’s Red Sea terrorism carries global ramifications. Between December 2023 and February 2024, Houthi attacks caused a roughly 90 percent decline in container shipping through the Red Sea according to the Defense Intelligence Agency. Attacks in the Red Sea serve as an important reminder that the group retains the capability and the will to defy Washington by challenging freedom of navigation in a crucial waterway.

Houthis Carried Out More Than 145 Attacks on Commercial Shipping

On March 16, just after the launch of Operation Rough Rider, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) campaign targeting the Houthis, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Houthis had carried out 145 attacks on commercial vessels since November 2023.

In November 2023, the Houthis hijacked the Galaxy Leader, a ship with partial Israeli ownership, holding the crew hostage for more than a year. The Houthis’ first deadly attack on a commercial vessel came in March 2024, when the group killed three crew members of a bulk carrier in the Gulf of Aden. In an attack on a commercial vessel in June 2024, the Houthis killed another crew member.

Yemen Remains an Active Front in Israel-Iran Conflict

Beyond the Red Sea, the Houthis have continued to launch missiles and drones at Israel. In the days following the Israel-Iran ceasefire, the Houthis claimed responsibility for three missile and drone attacks against the Jewish state. During the 12-day war, the Houthis claimed responsibility for at least one attack in coordination with Tehran.

When the U.S.-Houthi ceasefire began in May, the group emphasized that the agreement did not address their attacks on Israel, which they said would continue. Israel responded to the latest attacks, including the Magic Seas assault, by striking key Houthi ports, a power station, and the Galaxy Leader, which the Houthis had been using to track other ships.

U.S. Should Respond to Attacks as a Violation of U.S.-Houthi Ceasefire

The Houthis have not carried out any publicly known attacks on a U.S. vessel since the May 6 ceasefire, but they violated the Oman-brokered statement of terms, which said the agreement would ensure “the smooth flow of international commercial shipping.” The United States cannot ignore Houthi violence or leave Israel to address the Houthi problem alone. However, returning to a large air campaign like Operation Rough Rider, which hit more than 1,000 targets, is not President Trump’s only option.

The Trump administration should build upon the sanctions it imposed in late June by targeting foreign individuals and financial institutions, especially in Oman, supporting the Houthis. In March, the Treasury Department sanctioned Oman-based leaders of the terrorist group, indicating their influence in the country. In addition, the United States should isolate the Houthis by pressuring Muscat to close land-based smuggling routes and investing in the Yemeni Coast Guard to counter sea-based ones.

The United States could also conduct limited strikes to signal that escalation by the Houthis, including against commercial shipping, will not go unanswered. Ongoing U.S. and Israeli intelligence efforts may provide valuable targets, especially among the Houthi leadership, for future strikes. If the United States instills a credible fear of additional strikes, the Houthis may hesitate to continue their aggression.

Bridget Toomey is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), where she focuses on Iranian proxies, specifically Iraqi militias and the Houthis. For more analysis from Bridget and FDD, please subscribe HERE. Follow Bridget on X @BridgetKToomey. Follow FDD on X @FDD. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.