BP suspends all shipping activities in the Red Sea following attacks by rebels

BP, the oil giant, has announced that it will halt all oil shipments through the Red Sea due to recent attacks on vessels by Houthi rebels. The company cited the deteriorating security situation as the reason for this temporary move. Other freight firms have also suspended their ships after being targeted by the rebels in Yemen. Evergreen Line, one of the largest shipping companies in the world, stated that it would instruct its container ships to suspend journeys in the region until further notice. The Red Sea is a crucial route for oil and fuel shipments, as well as consumer goods. Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, have been targeting ships passing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, also known as the Gate of Tears, using drones and rockets against foreign-owned vessels. However, it is unclear if all the ships attacked were heading to Israel. BP emphasized that the safety and security of its personnel and those working on its behalf are its top priority. Maersk, the world's second-largest shipping company, described the situation as alarming following a "near-miss" incident involving one of its ships and another attack on a container ship. Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the world's largest shipping group, also announced that it would divert its ships from the area. Hapag-Lloyd and CMA-CGM have also suspended shipments through the region, with Hapag-Lloyd holding a crisis meeting to decide whether to resume travel. Evergreen Line stated that its containerships on longer journeys will be re-routed around the Cape of Good Hope instead of using the Bab al-Mandab Strait, in order to ensure the safety of its ships and crew.