Shipping companies expressed caution about using the shorter route between Asia and Europe that many ships have avoided for more than a year.

The Houthis said over the weekend they would stop attacking transiting vessels as long as the cease-fire holds. But big-box ship operators said it would take some time before secu

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have signaled they will limit their attacks in the Red Sea corridor to only Israeli-affiliated ships as a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip takes hold.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement has released the crew of a cargo ship more than a year after its fighters hijacked the vessel in the Red Sea, as part of its campaign of attacks in support of Hamas in its war against Israel.

London-listed shipbroker Braemar has painted a mixed picture for tankers if the Gaza ceasefire holds and the Houthis stop attacking non-Israeli ships in the Red Sea. A full return to Suez Canal routing will negatively impact tonne-mile demand for tankers, head of research Henry Curra calculated.

The Yemen-based Houthis signaled a pause in their months-long attacks on commercial ships following a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

Despite recently touting a Suez route, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) said it will stick to Cape of Good Hope until further notice.

Operations at a Red Sea port in Yemen used for aid imports have fallen to about a quarter of its capacity, a UN official said on Tuesday, adding it was not certain that a Gaza ceasefire would end attacks between the Iran-backed Houthis and Israel.

Yemen's Houthis have indicated they will restrict their Red Sea attacks to vessels linked with Israel amid a ceasefire in Gaza.