Iran-backed Houthis attacked a Chinese ship with missiles after promising to leave them alone

• The Houthis reportedly said they would avoid attacking Chinese ships off the coast of Yemen.
• But the Iran-backed rebels fired multiple missiles at a Beijing-owned tanker on Saturday.

The Houthis said they would refrain from attacking Chinese ships off the coast of Yemen, but this past weekend, the Iran-backed rebels did exactly what they said they wouldn't.

Early Saturday morning local time, the Houthis fired four anti-ship ballistic missiles toward the M/V Huang Pu, a Chinese-owned oil tanker, as the ship was transiting the Red Sea, according to US Central Command, or CENTCOM.

Hours later, the Houthis fired a fifth ballistic missile at the Huang Pu, which suffered "minimal damage" and a small fire but no casualties in the attack, CENTCOM said in a statement Saturday. It noted that the ship issued a distress call but did not request assistance. It was ultimately able to resume its journey.

"The Houthis attacked the M/V Huang despite previously stating they would not attack Chinese vessels," CENTCOM said.

For months, the Houthis have used drones and missiles to attack ships with ties to various countries in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. But the rebels recently signed an agreement with China and Russia to guarantee their vessels safe transit through the volatile region, in exchange for possible political support at the United Nations, Bloomberg reported last week.

China and Russia have strong diplomatic and economic ties with Iran, which is the Houthis' main backer. Tehran, for example, supplies the rebels with advanced weaponry that they have used in their ongoing attacks.

A deepening partnership between China, Russia, and Iran

Gen. Michael Kurilla, the CENTCOM commander, warned US lawmakers last week that the three countries are strengthening their ties and "creating a chaotic landscape favorable for their exploitation and the spread of extremism."

China, Russia, and Iran "have deepened their partnership and collaboration as Iran seeks to strengthen its regional position, Russia leverages Iranian military support in Ukraine, and the PRC aims to exploit tensions in the region to afford them a position of advantage and diminishes US interests," Kurilla said in written testimony to the House Armed Services Committee.

The general said that it is "noteworthy" that China buys 90% of exported Iranian oil, "which they could use to influence Iranian lethal aid to the Houthis if they chose to."

"Instead, Beijing only helps Tehran evade sanctions and accelerate its destabilization of the region," Kurilla said. "The PRC's unwillingness, or inability, to leverage its influence has contributed to Iran's disruption of the free flow of international commerce."

And Iran's unchecked malign activities put a Chinese ship at risk.

The M/V Huang Pu is Chinese owned and operated, but it was sailing under the flag of Panama when it was attacked. Furthermore, according to maritime security agency Ambrey, the vessel's registration details were changed last month, so it's possible that the rebels confused its identity.

Meanwhile, amid the attack on the Huang Pu on Saturday, US forces engaged six Houthi drones over the southern Red Sea. Five of the systems crashed into the water, while the sixth flew back inland into Yemen.

"It was determined these UAVs presented an imminent threat to US, coalition, and merchant vessels in the region," CENTCOM said. "These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for US, coalition, and merchant vessels."