One Year After Houthi Attack, Cristalis Ship Crosses Suez Canal
The Suez Canal Authority announced on Monday that the Cristalis oil tanker, which was targeted by Houthi militants last year, has crossed the Suez Canal for the first time since the attack. The ship, which flies the Liberian flag, passed through the Red Sea this week after being attacked by the Houthis off the coast of Yemen in July 2024.
Suez Canal Authority Chairman Osama Rabie stated that the return of the Cristalis vessel was "a strong reassurance of positive developments and the beginning of stability returning to the Red Sea region." Tracking data from London-based shipping exchanges confirmed that the ship passed through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in the past few days before heading northward through the Suez Canal
In December, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi announced that the blockage of the canal had cost Egypt around $7 billion in lost revenue in 2024. Many shipping companies had rerouted their vessels around South Africa to avoid potential Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, but they are now eagerly awaiting confirmation that the passage through the Red Sea is safe following the ceasefire in Gaza.
On January 20, after the Gaza ceasefire, the Houthis announced that their attacks on shipping lanes would now be limited to ships linked to Israel. This came after over 100 attacks on vessels since November 2023, resulting in the sinking of two ships.
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