(Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg News)
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Container giant A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S expressed caution about any fast return to shipping through the Red Sea, after the Yemen-based Houthis signaled a pause in their attacks on commercial vessels.
鈥淲e will continue monitoring the situation in the Middle East closely and will return to the Red Sea and sailing through Bab el Mandeb when it is safe to do so,鈥 Maersk said in an emailed statement. 鈥淚t is still too early to speculate about timing, but these developments are a needed step in the right direction.鈥
Maerks ranks No. 5 on the Transport Topics list of the top global freight companies.
Months of missile and drone firings by the Iran-backed Islamist rebels have sunk or damaged vessels, forcing a large majority to avoid the crucial trade route altogether. On Jan. 16, their leader Abdulmalik Al-Houthi said the group would follow the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, suggesting a halt in its campaign.
On Jan. 17, Israel鈥檚 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said an agreement with Hamas to pause the war in Gaza has been finalized, suggesting it鈥檚 on track to begin on Jan. 19.
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