In a surprising turn of events, one of the world's largest shipping firms, Maersk, has announced a significant change in its transit routes due to increased attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen. The company has decided to completely avoid the Red Sea and instead reroute its ships around the southern tip of Africa, resulting in a much longer journey.
Maersk's decision follows in the footsteps of other major shipping companies who have suspended transit through the Suez Canal, prompting concerns about the stability of the international shipping industry in the region. The recent suspension of operations by BP, the oil giant, in the area has also led to a spike in oil prices.
