French shipping group “CMA CGM” announced on Saturday that it has suspended all container ship crossings in the Red Sea following attacks on commercial vessels in the region.
The Marseille-based group stated, “The situation is deteriorating further, and safety concerns are increasing.”
It added, “Therefore, we have issued instructions to all container ships belonging to our group in the region scheduled to pass through the Red Sea to divert to safe areas and immediately halt their journeys in safe waters until further notice.”
Thus, the French company follows in the footsteps of “Maersk” and “Hapag-Lloyd,” which announced similar decisions on Friday, the former “until further notice,” and the latter at least until Monday.
In recent weeks, the Houthi rebels have intensified their attacks near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which is strategically important for maritime transport, as it separates the Arabian Peninsula from Africa, and 40% of international trade passes through it.
American and French warships patrolling the area have intercepted several missiles and drones.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom announced on Saturday that one of its destroyers had shot down what is believed to be an “attack drone” that was targeting commercial navigation in the Red Sea.
British Defense Minister Grant Shapps wrote on the “X” platform, “During the night, HMS Diamond shot down what is believed to be an attack drone targeting commercial navigation in the Red Sea,” adding that the warship successfully destroyed the target with a missile.
The Houthi rebels, close to Iran, announced that they would target any ships heading to Israel regardless of their countries, in response to the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
