Fears petrol prices will soar as BP SUSPENDS all Red Sea shipping after Houthi cargo ship attacks on vital trade route
OIL giant BP has paused all of its shipments through the Red Sea due to ongoing attacks from Yemen's Houthi rebels.
It said the decision was caused by a "deteriorating security situation" in the Middle East as fears grow the move will send prices soaring.
A number of other freight companies have been suspending their operations after being targeted by the Iran-backed terror group who have turned the area into an active warzone.
BP said: "The safety and security of our people and those working on our behalf is BP's priority.
"In light of the deteriorating security situation for shipping in the Red Sea, BP has decided to temporarily pause all transits through the Red Sea.
"We will keep this precautionary pause under ongoing review, subject to circumstances as they evolve in the region."
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Today, the price of oil rose due to concerns that the world's oil supply could be severely disrupted if the attacks continue.
And one of the world's largest shipping firms, Evergreen Line, also said it would suspend its journeys through the Red Sea "until further notice", the reports.
It followed two other shipping giants, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, pausing its operations in the Red Sea last week after being targeted by the Houthis.
A spate of recent attacks have been focused on the Bab al-Mandab Strait - also known as the Gate of Tears - a vital and perilous to navigate narrow waterway that leads to and from the Suez Canal.
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The militia group have been unleashing chaos by blasting ships with drones and rockets and stalking the waters on speedboats ready to hijack.
The Red Sea is an essential waterway for global trade which is used to transport oil, fuel and consumer goods largely between Europe and Asia.
Instead of using the Bab al-Mandab Strait, ships will be forced to travel the much longer route around southern Africa.
The Houthis, which control most of Yemen, have pledged to continue their attacks until Israel stops its devastating bombardment and invasion of the Gaza Strip.
However on Sunday, the terror group said they would consider a de-escalation if Israel took real steps to ease the humanitarian crisis in the Strip.
Over the weekend, a Royal Navy warship shot down an attack drone launched by the Houthis in the Red Sea.
HMS Diamond fired a Sea Viper missile to blast the kamikaze drone out of the sky - marking the first time the Royal Navy has fired air defence weapons in anger for more than 30 years.
The HMS Diamond was sent to steam through the Suez Canal in November in a show of force to Hamas-backers Iran.
The drone that it wiped out was attacking a merchant vessel in the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
It came only days after USS Carney, a US Navy guided missile destroyer, shot down multiple drones fired by the Iran-backed terror proxy.
It was at least the third time US warships have fired on Houthi missiles and drones since Hamas launched their October 7 massacre.
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Last week, Israel dispatched one of its most powerful warships to the Red Sea.
The Israeli Navy's Sa’ar 6-class corvette has been declared operational and has joined the UK, French and US vessels already deployed.
