The world's largest shipping company is indefinitely abandoning its Red Sea shipping lanes after the latest attack by Yemen's Houthi movement on commercial shipping in the body of water that serves as a shortcut between Europe and Asia.
On Saturday, the U.S. Navy responded to a distress call from the merchant ship Maersk Hangzhou. Helicopters from the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group and a guided missile destroyer fired in self-defense on multiple speed boats, sinking three with all hands aboard. A fourth boat fled the area.
But the helicopters didn't arrive until after the speed boats terrorized the civilian vessel and a missile fired from Houthi-controlled territory slammed into its side.
Speaking with “Good Morning America” on Sunday, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby reiterated that the Biden administration does not seek to escalate the conflict.
Tehran doesn't appear to have gotten that message.
According to state media, Iran is sending a warship to the Red Sea, following the sinking of the three Houthi ships.
The Houthis, one of Iran's Islamist proxy groups, have launched dozens of missile and drone attacks to disrupt maritime trade with Israel since it declared war on the country in October.
With Denmark's Maersk suspending travel along the Red Sea, ships scheduled to transit the shortcut to the Suez Canal are being rerouted around the entire African continent.
With 12% of global trade passing through the Red Sea, the decision will have repercussions far beyond the Middle East's vital economic corridor.
Maersk says it will continue to monitor and assess the evolving situation.
READ NEXT: World Leader Stabbed In Neck
