Torm, a Danish fuel tanker company operating 80 vessels, is halting all transits through the southern Red Sea due to Yemeni operations in the Red Sea against Israeli and "Israel"-bound ships.

This comes less than 24 hours after the United States and the United Kingdom led an aggression on several parts of Yemen governed by Sanaa, claiming that the attacks aim to prevent or decrease the country's ability to carry out operations.

The US Department of Defense added that the aggression was carried out with support from Australia, the Netherlands, Bahrain, and Canada.

Rather than calming shipping companies, many saw it as a new escalation that has turned the Red Sea into an active military conflict zone, especially since Sanaa vowed to respond to the illegal aggression.

Top shipping companies reroute

Citing the security situation in the Red Sea, the world’s five largest shipping companies, which represent over 60% of global maritime container – China's state-owned Cosco, Danish Maersk, German Hapag-Lloyd, French CMA CGM, and Swiss MSC – have all suspended navigations through the strategic waterway. Meanwhile Cosco, in its statement, specifically announced halting shipments to the Israeli occupation entity.

After the now-failed US-led coalition was established (Operation Prosperity Guardian), Maersk announced resuming shipments through the Red Sea. However, a vessel belonging to the container trade giant heading to "Israel" was soon targeted by the Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF), prompting the firm to declare rerouting all its ships around Africa.

Declining global trust in the United States

Shipping companies are refraining from sending ships through the Red Sea, despite Sanaa repeatedly declaring that all ships not included in the banned criteria are free and safe to sail to their destination.

For instance, Norwegian shipping company Gram Car Carriers, which specializes in car truck carriers, declared that its vessels were restricted from passing through the Red Sea.

It also promised to take further decisions at the end of the year, but no further details were provided.

Washington has been attempting to reassure shipping firms that its warships in the Red Sea will provide them protection, but it has failed to prevent all operations.

Air Force Lt. Col. Bryon McGarry, a spokesperson for the Defense Department in the Middle East and Africa, stated last December that the Pentagon was communicating with the industry almost daily. Their objective was to assess needs and offer assurance that the international community is committed to assisting with secure passage.

However, the growing number of companies redirecting their vessels away from the Red Sea has proved a declining trust in the United States' ability to prevent the Yemeni forces from enforcing their declared equation in support of Gaza.

Read more: US allies hesitant to join anti-Sanaa Red Sea coalition

Yemeni Armed Forces have the upper hand

According to an analysis by Michael Horton in Responsible Statecraft, the YAF attacks in the Red Sea are not only "creating a global shipping crisis" but are also "paying hefty political and even strategic dividends" for the Yemenis.

While all of their drones and missiles are built in Yemen, the author reveals that they are focused on tweaking and adapting Iranian designs for missiles and drones to meet their specific needs. Horton adds that all this taken into consideration, Ansar Allah has only used a fraction of its drones and has not yet used its more advanced longer-range missiles.

While US and coalition warships would most certainly be able to protect themselves, commercial shipping, particularly tankers, will become increasingly susceptible. Many multinational maritime corporations have already been essentially shut out of Bab al-Mandab, and higher-intensity confrontations could mean Red Sea traffic is reduced if not completely halted for months.