Middle East conflict | Shipping companies suspend passage via Red Sea

JOHANNESBURG - Major shipping firms have paused passage through the Red Sea strait.

This is in response to attacks on vessels by Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The Iran-backed group has been engaged in a civil war since 2014.

It's believed it's trying to block shipments of fuel and weapons to Israel in solidarity with Hamas.

But, it's not clear if any of the attacked ships were actually destined for the Jewish state.