CEP Senior Director Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler interviewed for story: "Yemen's Houthi rebels have told China and Russia that their ships can pass through the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea safely. The Houthis have been attacking vessels off the Yemeni coast since November. 
The US and the UK have launched air strikes on Houthi targets in retaliation. Several countries have deployed their naval forces to protect shipping in the trade route. Earlier this month, three crew members were killed when their ship was hit in a Houthi strike."