The Iranian-backed Houthis, who control much of Yemen but are not recognized internationally, say they are targeting the shipping to pressure Israel during its two-month war with Palestinian Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.
Tensions at sea have fueled fears that the conflict in Gaza could spread.
German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd said it would suspend container ship traffic in the Red Sea until December 18 after the Houthis attacked one of its ships.
“Hapag-Lloyd is suspending all container ship traffic through the Red Sea until Monday,” the company said in a statement sent to the AFP news agency.
The Danish company Maersk made a similar announcement a little earlier.
“We have instructed all Maersk vessels in the area intending to transit the Bab al Mandeb Strait to suspend their voyage until further notice,” the statement said.
Maersk said it followed a “near-miss incident with Maersk Gibraltar yesterday”, as well as an attack on Friday in which mutineers attacked a Hapag-Lloyd cargo ship in the Red Sea.
A United States defense official said it was the Liberian-flagged container ship Al Jasrah, 368 meters long, built in 2016.
“We know that someone launched from the Houthi-controlled region of Yemen hit this ship, which was damaged and a fire was reported,” the official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters.
The US Central Command in the Middle East (CENTCOM) confirmed on X that a drone had hit Al Jasrah, causing a fire that was successfully extinguished.
In a statement posted on social media on December 9, the Houthis said they would not allow ships bound for Israel, regardless of who they belonged to, if food and medicine were not allowed into the besieged, Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.
On Tuesday, they claimed responsibility for a missile strike on a Norwegian-flagged tanker.
Last month, they seized an Israeli-linked cargo ship, the Galaxy Leader, along with 25 international crew members.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Friday that Houthi attacks pose a threat not only to Israel’s security, but also to international shipping routes.
Speaking in Tel Aviv, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan expressed similar concerns and said Washington was working with the international community to counter the threat.
The Houthis have declared themselves part of the “axis of resistance” of groups linked to Iran.
Western warships patrol the area and have shot down Houthi missiles and drones several times.
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2024-08-04 04:40:57
