Houthi officials have promised safe passage for Russian and Chinese ships through the Red Sea amid ongoing clashes between Iran and Yemeni rebels and US allies.

In an interview published by a Russian news outlet on January 19, a senior Houthi official Mohammed al-Bukhaiti said the countries are avoiding shipping via the Red Sea due to the ongoing feud but they are saved and not to be targeted if it would not linked with specific countries, including Israel.

He claimed shipping for all countries including Russia and China is not threatened and: “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.”

However, attacks will continue to the vessels connected with Israel, he said.

Iran-backed rebels termed the attack on US and British-linked ships as fair game after two countries launched an air strike in Yemen water.

Meanwhile, the Houthis claimed that they targeted a US ship at sea on January 19 after the country launched fresh strikes on rebel targets the day before.

The Houthis launched several attacks on the shipping lane in Yemen water since the war in Gaza erupted on Oct 7.

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Bukhaiti defended his group’s capture in November of the Galaxy Leader – a merchant vessel linked to an Israeli businessman – as “a precautionary step for everyone else to follow our requirements”.

The ship’s crew, who are still being held, “are fine, and we are giving them a warm welcome,” he added.

While the Houthis insist their attacks only target vessels of certain nationalities, a US Navy commander has said the ships involved have ties to dozens of countries.