In a recent interview with a Russian news outlet, senior Houthi official Mohammed al-Bukhaiti reassured Russia and China of safe passage for their ships through the Red Sea, amid escalating tensions in the region. This announcement follows a Suez Canal incident where a tugboat sank after colliding with a Hong Kong-flagged LPG tanker.
Al-Bukhaiti stated that the ongoing clashes between Iran and Yemeni rebels, as well as US allies, have led some countries to avoid shipping through the Red Sea. However, he emphasized that vessels not linked with specific countries, excluding Israel, would be safe from targeting.
“We are ready to ensure the safe passage of their ships in the Red Sea, because free navigation plays a significant role for our country,” al-Bukhaiti declared.
Despite this assurance, he warned that attacks would continue on vessels associated with Israel, linking the attacks to recent air strikes in Yemen carried out by the US and Britain. The Houthi rebels consider the attacks on US and British-linked ships as fair retaliation.
On January 19, the Houthis claimed to have targeted a US ship at sea in response to fresh strikes launched by the United States on rebel targets the day before. The rebel group has been launching several attacks on the shipping lane in Yemeni waters since the eruption of the war in Gaza on October 7.
Mohammed al-Bukhaiti defended the Houthi group’s capture in November of the Galaxy Leader, a merchant vessel linked to an Israeli businessman, describing it as a “precautionary step for everyone else to follow our requirements.” The crew of the captured ship is reportedly still being held, with al-Bukhaiti stating that they are “fine, and we are giving them a warm welcome.”
While the Houthis claim their attacks target vessels of specific nationalities, a US Navy commander contradicted this, stating that the ships involved have ties to dozens of countries. The situation remains fluid, raising concerns about the safety of international shipping in the region.
