Houthis Ensure Safe Passage for Russian and Chinese Ships in Red Sea

The Houthi rebels in Yemen have declared their intent to ensure the safety of Chinese and Russian vessels navigating the Red Sea, amidst their ongoing campaign against ships associated with Israel and its allies. This assurance was given by Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a high-ranking official of the Iran-supported Houthi group, in a conversation with the pro-Kremlin newspaper Izvestia.

Al-Bukhaiti emphasized that the Houthi rebels’ focus is on targeting ships linked to Israel and its supporting nations. He assured that vessels from other countries, including Russia and China, would not be at risk in the region. He further stated the group’s readiness to guarantee safe transit for Russian and Chinese ships through the Red Sea, highlighting the importance of free navigation for Yemen.

This announcement came shortly after the Houthis launched a missile attack on another U.S.-owned commercial vessel, following a recent series of strikes by the U.S. military against the Houthi forces in Yemen. Bukhaiti was explicit in his warning that ships tied to Israel would face continuous attacks and would not be able to safely navigate the Red Sea.