Chinese shipping firm COSCO reportedly suspended shipping to the Israeli regime through the strategic Red Sea, following the Yemeni army’s attacks on ships bound for the occupied territories in support of the Gaza Strip, Fars News reports.
Israeli financial news website Globes reported COSCO’s decision on Sunday without providing further details, adding that the shipping firm is yet to notify international shippers of its decision.
COSCO offices in Israel declined to comment. Israeli port officials also said they were checking the report.
The latest development comes amid repeated warnings by the Yemeni army that it will prevent the passage of all ships bound for Israeli ports.
Since last month, the Yemeni army has intensified attacks on ships en route to the Israeli-occupied territories after the illegal entity refused to extend a Qatari-brokered ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and pressed ahead with its genocidal war on the besieged Palestinian territory.
Yemen has vowed it will continue with its attacks until Israel stops its onslaught against Gaza, reiterating that it will only target ships heading to Israeli ports, and all the other ships bound for other ports can freely move in waters near the country.
Reports have shown that Israeli shipping companies have already decided to reroute their vessels in fear of attacks by Yemeni forces.
A growing number of international companies have also decided to pause shipments through the Red Sea.
Back in December, Oil giant BP announced that it had temporarily stopped its shipping operations via the Suez Canal after Yemen's growing attacks on commercial vessels.
The Swiss-headquartered Mediterranean Shipping Company (MCS) and France's CMA CGM also announced that they had rerouted their services and suspended passage of their cargoes through the Red Sea, joining Danish giant Maersk and German carrier Hapag-Lloyd in avoiding the strategic waterway.
Hong Kong-based shipping giant Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) also stopped cargo acceptance to and from the Israeli-occupied territories until further notice “due to operational issues”.
Evergreen, the Taiwanese container transportation and shipping company, said it had temporarily suspended import and export services in Israel until further notice, citing the security risk, in addition to halting journeys via the Suez Canal.
