Yemen’s Houthi Group Tells China, Russia Their Vessels Won’t Be Attacked
The Yemen's Houthis have told China and Russia their ships can sail through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden without being attacked, according to several sources familiar with the matter. China and Russia reached an understanding following talks between their diplomats in Oman and Mohammed Abdel Salam, the Houthi spokesperson, said the sources. The two countries may provide political support to the Houthis in bodies such as the United Nations Security Council, according to the sources. It’s not entirely clear how that support would be manifested, but it could include blocking more resolutions against the group. The Houthis have been attacking shipping lanes in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since November last year, saying their operations are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza where Israel has killed over 30000 people since October
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman held talks on Thursday with Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak to discuss a UN roadmap to end the civil war in Yemen. The discussions also dwelt on efforts to support peace talks between Yemen’s warring rivals to help restore stability to the Arab country, the Saudi official news agency SPA reported. The UN roadmap includes a commitment from the country’s warring rivals to implement a nationwide cease-fire, pay all public sector salaries, resume oil exports, open roads in Taiz and other parts of Yemen, and further ease restrictions on Sanaa Airport and Al Hudaydah port.
The US military and coalition forces destroyed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and an unmanned surface vessel launched by Yemen’s Houthi group in the Red Sea, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said Wednesday."On March 20, a coalition aircraft successfully engaged and destroyed one unmanned aerial vehicle and United States Central Command successfully engaged and destroyed one unmanned surface vessel, both launched by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, " CENTCOM wrote on X. There were no injuries or damage to US or coalition ships, it said.
A merchant vessel reported shots from a skiff approximately 109 nautical miles south of Yemen's Nishtun, British security firm Ambrey said on Thursday. Four armed people aboard a skiff approached the vessel and reportedly shot at the merchant vessel, and a private armed security team aboard returned fire, Ambrey added. The vessel reportedly increased speed and was no longer under threat by the skiff, with no damage or injuries reported, Ambrey said. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency reported the same incident on Thursday.
