Chinese Navy Escorting Commercial Cargo Ships in Red Sea

China's navy has started escorting Chinese cargo ships through the Red Sea, according to a shipping company and Chinese state media reports. 

This comes as many cargo shipping companies have decided to avoid the globally important trade passage because of attacks from Houthi rebels.

Since November, Iran-backed Houthis have launched scores of drone and missile attacks on ships passing through the Red Sea, acts that they say are in support of Palestinian militant group Hamas in the war with Israel.