In an interview published on Friday, a senior Houthi official promised safe passage for Russian and Chinese vessels through the Red Sea, AFP reports.

Mohammed al-Bukhaiti said the waters around Yemen were safe so long as vessels were not linked to certain countries, particularly Israel.

That followed similar calls by Beijing’s Commerce Ministry on those in the region to “restore and ensure the safety of waterways in the Red Sea”.

“It is hoped that the relevant parties will proceed from the overall interests of regional security and stability as well as the common interests of the international community,” ministry spokesman He Yadong said Thursday, according to state news agency Xinhua.