The United States conducted new strikes in Yemen on Tuesday, according to a US official. Concurrently, the Iran-backed Houthis asserted responsibility for a missile attack on a Greek-owned cargo ship in the Red Sea. The White House expressed optimism, over discussions facilitated by Qatar which could result in a new agreement between Israel and Hamas.
US forces carried out fresh strikes on Yemen Tuesday, a US official said, as the Iran-backed Houthis claimed a missile attack on a Greek-owned cargo ship in the Red Sea.
The ship, which has visited Israel since the outbreak of war in Gaza and was headed to the Suez Canal, changed course and headed to port after the incident, according to maritime risk management company Ambrey.
A source within the Greek maritime affairs ministry named the ship as the Zografia, a 24-crew vessel, and said it had been sailing from Vietnam to Israel.
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Israel pummeled southern Gaza on Tuesday, killing dozens, even as authorities announced the winding down of the intense phase of the war that has inflamed tensions across the Middle East.
Sinwar Sanctioned
The European Union on Tuesday added Hamas Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar to its “terrorist” sanctions blacklist over the October 7 attacks on Israel.
The move means that the accused mastermind of the attacks is subject to an asset freeze in the 27-nation bloc and bans EU citizens conducting transactions with him.
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Oil Trade Affected
British oil giant Shell indefinitely suspended all shipments through the Red Sea last week due to the Houthi threat, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.
It therefore joined several major shipping companies in diverting vessels away from the key route between Asia and European markets, which normally carries about 12 percent of global maritime trade, on a major detour around Southern Africa.
Bloomberg reported on Monday that at least five LNG vessels operated by Qatar had stopped en route to the Red Sea.
Earlier, Qatar’s Prime Minister said liquefied natural gas shipments would be affected by tensions in the Red Sea, and warned that strikes on Yemen risk aggravating the crisis.
“LNG is… as any other merchant shipments. They will be affected,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told the Forum, referring to the exchanges with the Houthis.
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‘Hopeful’ Talks
The United States is “hopeful” that talks brokered by Qatar could lead to a new deal between Israel and Hamas to release hostages in exchange for a ceasefire in Gaza, the White House said Tuesday.
US President Joe Biden’s main adviser on the Middle East, Brett McGurk, had been in Doha within the past week to discuss a possible deal on the hostages.
De-escalation Step
Kirby meanwhile hailed an “important” announcement by Israel that it would wind down the intense phase of the war that has inflamed tensions across the Middle East.
The removal of a division of Israeli army troops from Gaza was a “positive step forward in terms of getting to lower intensity ops,” John Kirby said.
“Less intense Israeli operations would also allow the increased distribution of aid inside Gaza,” he added.
Human Toll
About 1,140 Israelis, mostly civilians, have died, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
At least 24,285 Palestinians, about 70 percent of them women, children and adolescents, have been killed in Gaza in Israeli bombardments and ground operations since October 7, according to the Gaza government.
Khalil Wakim, with AFP
