The Houthis have told Russia and China that their ships can pass through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden without being attacked, Bloomberg news reported.
The decision came following talks between the Houthis political representatives and diplomats from China and Russia in Oman.
It is not clear what these countries will now provide political support from the Houthis in return
The Islamist group had also indicated earlier that ships from these two countries would not be targeted. But, the talks underline the nervousness among major powers following the attacks on ships in the region.
in January, China and Russia abstained from a resolution sponsored by the US and Japan that condemned Houthi attacks on ships. Follwing this, the US and the UK began air strikes after the resolution targeting the Houthis’ military infrastructure, including missile launch sites and radar stations. In February, China and Russia questioned legality of the strikes against the Houthis.
There is a growing belief among US officials that military action in the region would not be the only way to deter the Houthis, and pressure from Tehran is the only way to ease the situation. According to Financial Times, both US and Iran have spoken on the issue.
The Iran-aligned Yemeni Houthis have launched attacks on ships linked to Israel in the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Recently, the armed group upped its attack on vessels in the region. This has led to vessels being diverted around southern Africa rather than using the Suez Canal between Europe and Asia, which is likely to pose a global economic risk.
A US-led naval coalition has been in the area since December 2023 trying to counter Houthi attacks. Forces from the coalition have also carried out strikes, but despite that the group that controls the most populous parts of Yemen has remained capable of launching significant attacks.
