In an interview with the Russian Outlet Izvestia, a senior Houthi official announced that Russian and Chinese ships could safely cross the Red Sea as long as they had no connections with Israel.

The Houthis have declared they act in solidarity with the people of Gaza amidst Israel’s war against Hamas, which has killed thousands of Palestinians.

Houthis have launched over 30 attacks in the Red Sea, and major shipping companies have rerouted ships on the longer route around Africa. The Red Sea route is a vital shipping lane between Europe and Asia through which 15% of the world’s maritime traffic passes.

The Houthis launched 2 anti-ship ballistic missiles at a U.S.-owned ship in the Gulf of Aden, the U.S Central Command said in a statement.

The ship’s crew said that the missiles landed in the water close to the ship. Hence, there were no injuries and no damage to the vessel, M/V Chem Ranger.

However, the Houthis who carried out the attack claimed direct hits in a statement they posted on social media.

On Thursday, the U.S carried out strikes against targets in Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen amidst concerns that the Israel-Hamas conflict could transform into a massive war across the Middle East.