Cosco is dropping sailings to Israeli ports through the Red Sea, where the Houthi rebels in Yemen are currently attacking the international merchant fleet and causing chaos.

The decision is reported by several media outlets, including CNBC, with reference to the Israeli media Globes, which cites sources with knowledge of the situation.

The Houthi militia’s attack on the merchant fleet sailing in the Red Sea is allegedly supported by Iran, which sides with the Palestinians in the ongoing conflict against Israel in Gaza.

The militia, which controls a significant part of Yemen, has announced that the attacks will continue until Israel withdraws from the conflict.

The attacks have plunged the merchant fleet into crisis and caused most shipping companies to send ships south of Africa rather than through the waters leading to the Suez Canal, which is traditionally one of the most used waterways for transporting especially containers and oil from Asia to Europe.

On Friday, Maersk announced that it will send all container ships south of Africa at the Cape of Good Hope.

According to the media, Cosco did not share further details about the decision.