Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have continued their attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea. Due to the nature of the attack, the world’s largest shipping companies halted operations in the Red Sea since the weekend.
On Friday, shipping giants A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S (Maersk) and Hapag-Lloyd stopped all container ship travel in the Red Sea, according to a report by ZeroHedge. The following day, Italian-Swiss-based Mediterranean Shipping Company and French-based CMA CGM followed suit. AFP News reported that Italian-Swiss-based Mediterranean Shipping Company and French-based CMA CGM halted container ship sails through the Red Sea on Saturday, citing mounting risks due to Iran-backed Houthi rebels. So far, four large shipping companies are switching gears to avoid attacks by Iranian proxies.
The number of major shipping firms that have suspended sails through the Red Sea due to elevated missile and drone attacks near the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait has jumped to four.
AFP News reports that Italian-Swiss-based Mediterranean Shipping Company and French-based CMA CGM halted container ship sails through the Red Sea on Saturday, citing mounting risks due to Iran-backed Houthi rebels. –ZeroHedge
“We are deeply concerned about the highly escalated security situation in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden,” reads a statement from Maersk. “The recent attacks on commercial vessels in the area are alarming and pose a significant threat to the safety and security of seafarers.”
U.S. Warship Responds To Houthi Terror Attacks In Red Sea
“The recent attacks on commercial vessels in the area are alarming and pose a significant threat to the safety and security of seafarers,” Mærsk stated.
“I suspect the Iranians have armed the Houthis with some serious anti-ship missiles and there is a fear of embarrassment if a Navy ship is sunk,” one commenter wrote on a story about the Red Sea crisis. “The gayest Navy in the world.”
In the early morning hours of December 16 (Sanna time) the US Arliegh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS CARNEY (DDG 64), operating in the Red Sea, successfully engaged 14 unmanned aerial systems launched as a drone wave from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. The UAS were… pic.twitter.com/Rjkzng5LxW
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 16, 2023
Some companies have rerouted shipments, but this is going to strain global supply chains as the Red Sea is responsible for roughly 10% of the world’s international trade.
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