WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday designated Yemen's Houthi movement, known formally as Ansar Allah, as a "foreign terrorist organization", the White House said in a statement.

The multiple articles about the Houthis in Iranian state media show how important this group is to Iran these days.

Group says it will stop attacking Israeli-linked ships when all phases of the Gaza ceasefire deal are completed.

Yemen's Houthis will limit their attacks on commercial vessels to Israel-linked ships only, provided the Gaza ceasefire is fully implemented, the group has said, potentially reducing disruptions that have affected world maritime trade for more than a year.

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.

DUBAI - Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis have released the crew of the Galaxy Leader more than a year after they seized the vessel off the coast of Yemen, Al Masirah TV reported on Wednesday. Read more at straitstimes.

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.

The announcement brings the Houthis closer to ending their assault on ships crossing the waters surrounding Yemen, which has severely restricted trade through the vital Red Sea passage. Shipowners have been reluctant to return even as the rate of attacks dropped off amid a series of US and Israeli strikes on Houthi targets in recent months.

The Houthis are the primary impediment to greater international support and are jeopardizing the possibility of peace in Yemen,” said Ambassador Shea.

Yemen's Houthi rebels have signaled they now will limit their attacks in the Red Sea corridor to only Israeli-affiliated ships, just as a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip entered its second day Monday. The Houthis' announcement,

U.S. volumes could give way to increases, but that depends on carriers’ plans in the coming weeks, said analyst Freightos. The post Asia-US container rates decline in slack season appeared first on FreightWaves.