Israel to let some troops go home
But Red Sea turns bloody
The Israeli military is planning to withdraw five brigades from the Gaza Strip as it gained more control of the war zone.
The military said it was prepared for a lengthy fight, but in different phases to what has been seen since the conflict that began on October 7 when Hamas gunman killed 1200 Israelis.
IDF Spokesman Daniel Hagari said fewer soldiers were needed on the ground because of the “smart” management of forces.
And allowing reservists to return home would help aid the economy and let others to continue their training.
“We are adjusting the fighting methods to each area in Gaza, and the necessary forces to carry out the mission in the best way possible. Each area has different characteristics and different operational needs,” he said.
“The goals of the war require lengthy fighting, and we are prepared accordingly.”
It comes as US Navy helicopters fired on Iran-backed Huthi rebels attempting to board a cargo ship off Yemen with the rebels reporting 10 fighters were dead or missing.
The clash in the Red Sea marked a deadly escalation since the US set up a multinational naval task force in early December to protect the vital shipping lane against attacks by the Huthis, who control the Yemeni capital Sanaa and much of the country’s Red Sea coast.
The rebels, who say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas war, have repeatedly fired drones and missiles at passing ships in the seaway through which 12 per cent of global trade passes.
US Central Command said the navy had responded to a distress call from the Maersk Hangzhou, a Danish-owned container ship that reported coming under attack for a second time in 24 hours while transiting the Red Sea.
The vessel had earlier been targeted with two anti-ship ballistic missiles. One was shot down by the US military and the other hit the Maersk Hangzhou.
The Huthis had then fired on US helicopters, which “returned fire in self-defence”, sinking three of four small boats that had come within 20m of the ship.
It said the crews of the three vessels were killed while the fourth boat fled the area.
Huthi military spokesman Yahya Saree confirmed in a statement on X that 10 members of the group’s naval forces were “killed or missing” in the US strike.
Maersk suspended the passage of its vessels through the Red Sea for 48 hours after the latest of about two dozen attacks by Huthis on international shipping in the past six weeks. “As we assess the security situation further, it has been decided to delay all transits through the area for the next 48 hours,” the company said in a statement.
It comes as United Kingdom Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said the British government was prepared to take “direct action” to prevent further attacks.