PARIS, December 17. /TASS/. The French transport company CMA CGM has suspended container shipments in the Red Sea, according to a statement published on the company's website.

"The CMA CGM Group is deeply concerned about the recent attacks on commercial vessels unfolding in the Red Sea Region. The situation is further deteriorating and concern of safety is increasing," the statement said. "We have decided to instruct all CMA CGM containerships in the area that are scheduled to pass through the Red Sea to reach safe areas and pause their journey in safe waters with immediate effect until further notice."

The US Central Command said that on December 16 the USS Carney destroyer shot down 14 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over the Red Sea, which had been launched from those areas in Yemen that are controlled by the rebel movement of Ansar Allah (Houthis). Earlier, British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said that the UK’s destroyer HMS Diamond shot down a drone that was "targeting merchant shipping" in the Red Sea.