China, Russia reach Red Sea security agreement with Houthi

Yemen's Houthi forces have assured China and Russia that their ships can pass through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden without being attacked.

Bloomberg news agency on March 21 quoted a number of sources as saying that China and Russia reached the above agreement with the Houthi force after negotiations in Oman between diplomats of the two countries and Mr. Mohammed Abdel Salam, one of the leading political figures of the Houthi force. In return, Russia and China can provide political support for this force at international agencies and organizations such as the United Nations Security Council.

British cargo ship Rubymar was hit by a Houthi missile on February 18 while passing through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Photo: SHUTTERSTOCK

In January, Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a senior Houthi official, asserted that the waters around Yemen were safe for ships not linked to a number of countries, including Israel.

The agreement was announced amid growing unrest in the Red Sea as Houthi forces have repeatedly attacked international commercial vessels in the area since mid-November last year, claiming the attacks were in protest against Israel's military campaign in Gaza.

The attacks have disrupted global shipping, forcing companies to make longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa. The US and UK have launched retaliatory strikes against Houthi targets.

MINH CHAU

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