The Iran-backed Houthis, who have repeatedly fired missiles at Israel and disrupted Red Sea shipping lanes, have told the European Union and the United States they will not attack European vessels, according to Open Source Intel citing the Financial Times. The militia stated its operations near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait are not intended to disrupt international shipping, with its focus shifting toward Saudi Arabian interests.
The assurances come as France announced deployment of troops and air defense systems to Saudi Arabia to protect the kingdom's Yanbu oil facilities from Houthi strikes, according to separate reports. The militia recently struck Riyadh and an Aramco facility, and earlier knocked a Saudi oil pipeline offline with missile fire.
