Qatar pauses Red Sea tankers after Western strikes on Houthis
investing.comBy Andrew Mills and Maha El Dahan
DOHA/WASHINGTON (Reuters) — Qatar's state energy company, one of the world's biggest liquefied natural gas exporters, has paused sending tankers through the Red Sea after U.S.-led strikes against Houthi militants in Yemen targeting the crucial trade route.
Attacks on ships by the Houthis, who say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians, have disrupted global commerce and alarmed major Western powers in a spillover from Israel's more than three-month war with Hamas militants in Gaza.
In the latest shift by a major firm, state-owned QatarEnergy has held at least four LNG tankers back from the Red Sea, a senior source said, adding that production continues.
That followed dozens of U.S. and British strikes on the Houthis in Yemen. They have been at war with a Saudi-led coalition for years, but have also turned their sights on the sea next to them as a way to put pressure on Israel.
The U.S. military said late on Sunday that its fighter aircraft shot down an anti-ship cruise missile fired by the militants toward a U.S. destroyer. No injuries or damage were reported, according to a military statement on X.
On Monday, carmaker Suzuki said production would halt at its Esztergom plant in Hungary from Jan. 15-21 as the Red Sea attacks had delayed the arrival of Japanese-made engines.
The Houthis have vowed to keep targeting Israel-linked ships and to give a firm response to the attacks on them.
U.S. ally Britain said it had no desire to be involved in a Red Sea conflict but was committed to protecting the right of free navigation. «Let's wait and see what happens,» said Defence Secretary Grant Shapps of potential further strikes.
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