Instead, they sent them around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope, a much longer, more expensive and less efficient route.
A German warship shot down two drones in the Red Sea on Tuesday, German officials said, amid escalating Houthi attacks in Yemen and European Union efforts to protect international shipping.
The Rubimare ship is seen in the southern Red Sea near the Gulf of Mandab Strait, leaking oil after an attack.credit: AP
Despite US-led air strikes more than a month ago, Houthi rebels are still able to launch major attacks. Last week, they severely damaged a ship in a critical strait and shot down a US drone worth tens of millions of dollars.
The Houthis insist that their attacks will continue until Israel stops its combat operations in the Gaza Strip, which has angered the wider Arab world and seen the Houthis gain international recognition.
