By Al-Fassel | 2024-03-15

Chinese and Russian warships are taking part in a joint naval exercise with their ally, Iran, as tensions soar in regional waterways where Iran's proxies in Yemen, the Houthis, continue to attack commercial shipping.

More than 20 ships, support vessels and combat boats from the three allies are participating in drills in the Gulf of Oman, Iran's official IRNA news agency reported.

The maneuvers began in the Gulf of Oman on the night of March 12, IRNA said.

They are slated to continue until March 15.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy has dispatched 10 heavy and light vessels, two helicopters and 420 armed support personnel to take part in the joint drills, according to IRNA.

Russia's Pacific Fleet, led by the Varyag cruiser, arrived at the Iranian port of Chabahar on March 11 ahead of the drills, while China sent the destroyer Urumqi and the frigate Linyi to the exercise.

A Chinese supply ship also is taking part in the joint exercise, the Chinese Defense Ministry said.

The exercise comes as the Iran-backed Houthis continue to attack commercial shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Since November, the Houthis' indiscriminate attacks have targeted vessels with links to more than 55 countries, and the group has killed, wounded and taken hostage civilian crew members from a number of countries.

Iran, which provides weapons and training to the Houthis, also has been providing attack drones to Russia that are being used in its assault on Ukraine.

'Maritime security'

"The practical part of the exercise will take place in the waters of the Gulf of Oman in the Arabian Sea," Russian news agencies cited the defense ministry as saying.

"The main purpose of the maneuvers is to work out the safety of maritime economic activity."

Rear Admiral Mostafa Tajeddini, spokesman for the joint military exercise, said the naval units of the three countries conducted the "Photo Ex" exercise and offensive formations, IRNA reported March 13.

"All stages of the exercise are carried out with the supervision and aerial monitoring of the region by the helicopters of the Navy of the Islamic Republic [of Iran] Army and the IRGC," Tajeddini said.

He said the naval units of Iran, Russia and China fired at surface targets in the sea on the command of the Iranian destroyer Dena.

The three countries held joint maneuvers in the same waters in March last year under the name "Security Bond 2023."

The Houthis in January announced they are giving special dispensation to the vessels of Russia and China, after repeatedly attacking merchant ships linked to other countries in the Red Sea over the past few months.

Iran, which is closely aligned with Russia and China, has been supplying the Houthis with weapons. The Houthis now appear to be rewarding Russia and China, underscoring their alliance with these countries and Iran, analysts said.