SANAA, Yemen 

Yemen’s Houthi group said Wednesday it held “constructive” talks with the European Union on the Red Sea security. 

Hussein al-Azzi, a Houthi official in their foreign ministry, said that talks mediated by Norway were held with the EU.

“We affirmed that maritime navigation is safe,” he added at a press conference in Sanaa.

On Monday, the EU formally launched a naval mission, under the name Mission Aspides, to protect commercial vessels in the Red Sea from Houthi attacks.

Al-Azzi said that Israeli, US and British vessels are prohibited from sailing in the Red Sea.

"The US can’t secure its ships,” he said. “They were passing safely before they attacked Yemen, but now they are helpless.”

According to the Houthi leader, 283 ships crossed the Red Sea safely.

There was no comment yet from the EU or the US on the Houthi statements.

The Houthis have been targeting cargo ships in the Red Sea owned or operated by Israeli companies or transporting goods to and from Israel in solidarity with the Gaza Strip, which has been under an Israeli onslaught since Oct. 7.

With tensions escalating due to the joint strikes of the US and UK against Houthi targets in Yemen, the group declared that it considered all American and British ships legitimate military targets.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio