The Suez Canal Authority of Egypt announced on Sunday its vigilant monitoring of the escalating tensions in the Red Sea following recent assaults by Yemen’s Houthis on vessels in the southern area of the basin.
In response to increased attacks by Houthi militants, two major freight companies, including MSC, the world’s largest container shipping line, declared their avoidance of the Suez Canal.
The authority is “closely following the consequences of current tensions,” the body’s chairman, Osama Rabie, said in a statement. Maritime traffic in the canal was currently normal, he added, without going into further detail.
The Houthi group, aligned with Iran, has targeted ships in the region in protest against Israel’s actions in Gaza, resulting in a reported casualty count of nearly 19,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials.
Since November 19, the Suez Canal Authority reported 55 ships redirecting their routes via the Cape of Good Hope, while 2,128 vessels have crossed the canal within the same period.
Rabie noted that on Sunday, 77 ships traversed the canal, including some from shipping lines that had announced temporary diversions. These ships were already positioned in the Red Sea region before the redirection announcements were made.