The Huthis began targeting shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in November 2023, claiming to act in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, and American forces have been hammering them with strikes in a bid to stop the attacks.

"Chang Guang Satellite Technology Company... is directly supporting Iran-backed Huthi terrorist attacks on US interests," State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told journalists.

"Their actions -- and Beijing's support of the company, even after our private engagements with them -- is yet another example of China's empty claims to support peace," she said.

Bruce did not initially provide details on the nature of the company's support for the rebels, but later referred to "a Chinese company providing satellite imagery to the Huthis."

A spokesman for Beijing's foreign ministry said Friday he was "not aware of the situation" when asked about the US accusations, adding that "China has been actively working to ease" tensions in the Red Sea.

"It is clear to the international community who is promoting peace and dialogue to ease tensions, and who is imposing sanctions and pressure to escalate them," spokesman Lin Jian added at the regular press conference.

Chang Guang Satellite Technology Company was sanctioned by Washington in 2023 for allegedly providing high-resolution imagery to Russian private military company Wagner, which played a major role in Moscow's war against Ukraine but has since been disbanded.

Huthi attacks have prevented ships from passing through the Suez Canal -- a vital route between Asia and Europe that normally carries about 12 percent of world shipping traffic -- forcing many companies into a costly detour around the tip of southern Africa.

US President Donald Trump's administration launched a new round of military action against the Huthis starting on March 15, and the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Thursday that American strikes had destroyed the Ras Issa fuel port in Yemen.

"US forces took action to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Huthi terrorists and deprive them of illegal revenue that has funded Huthi efforts to terrorize the entire region for over 10 years," CENTCOM said in a statement.

"The objective of these strikes was to degrade the economic source of power of the Huthis, who continue to exploit and bring great pain upon their fellow countrymen," it added.

The United States first began conducting strikes against the Huthis under the Biden administration, and Trump has vowed that military action against the rebels would continue until they are no longer a threat to shipping.

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