China, Russia Agree With Violent Houthis On Safe Passage In Red Sea

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

SANAA/MOSCOW/HONG KONG (Worthy News) – Much of the world’s commerce appeared to be dependent on ships from Russia and China on Friday as Yemen-based Houthi rebels agreed to give them safe passage while attacking vessels of Israel’s allies, including the United States.

Sources familiar with the talks said the Houthis ensured Moscow and Beijing that Russian and Chinese ships could “safely travel” through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, which account for some 12 percent of global annually.

However, in a development expected to worry Israel and the West, both Russia and China promised to provide some “political support” to the Shia group, which Iran has backed.

While officials declined to elaborate, the support was expected to include backing them in international institutions, such as by blocking resolutions aimed at the Houthis in the United Nations Security Council.

That was due to add to East-West tensions over Israel and other hotspots ranging from Ukraine to Taiwan, where officials say U.S. forces are permanently stationed.

In January, the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution condemning Houthi attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea, but China and Russia abstained during that vote.

Ahead of the latest agreement, Houthis traveled to Moscow for talks with Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The parties reportedly discussed ways “to pressure” Israel and the United States to end the war in Gaza.

ISRAEL DEFENDS WAR

Israel’s government says its war is in response to “Hamas terrorists” entering Israel on October 7 when they killed about 1,200 people and kidnapped some 253 men, women, and children.

The Hamas-run health ministry claims more than 31,000 “Palestinians” have died, but those figures have been impossible to verify and do not mention the more than 13,000 Hamas fighters that Israel says it killed.

Houthis, backed by Iran, have said they will continue attacking vessels linked to Israel and its allies as long as Israeli attacks against Hamas in the Gaza Strip continue.

“The Houthis, an Islamist group, say they are targeting ships linked to Israel, the U.S., and the U.K. Yet they appear to have misidentified some vessels, and Russia and China may have wanted stronger assurances from the group,” commented the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post newspaper.

A U.S.-led coalition has been trying to protect their vessels, but a Houthi missile attack still killed three seafarers on a Red Sea merchant ship this month, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said.

They were the first fatalities reported since the Yemeni group began strikes against shipping in one of the world’s busiest trade lanes.

The attack set the Greek-owned, Barbados-flagged ship True Confidence ablaze around 50 nautical miles (92 kilometers) off the coast of Yemen’s port of Aden, several sources said.

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