Red Sea relaxing

Houthi pause on shipping attacks lowers tensions, but risk remains

By Mark Szakonyi

The announcement in November by Houthi rebels operating in Yemen that they will pause attacks on Israel and commercial shipping is the latest development pointing to the potential resumption of most container trade through the Red Sea and Suez Canal.

But while the development can be viewed as a de-escalation of regional tensions, shipping through the Red Sea“ remains a severe risk,” and the latest period with no attacks has coincided with the rebels rebuilding damaged infrastructure and rearming, warns Jack Kennedy, head of Middle East and North Africa country risk at S & P Global Market Intelligence. www. joc. com December 1, 2025 | Journal of Commerce 21