The US Transportation Department issued an alert to American merchant ships on Monday, advising them to steer clear of the southern part of the Red Sea until further notice.
The Maritime Administration cautioned that there “continues to be a high degree of risk” facing ships transiting the Southern Red Sea, including the potential for “retaliatory attacks” by Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Officials advised that although the decision is ultimately up to companies and individual vessels, “it is recommended” US-flag and US-owned commercial vessels avoid the area “until further notice."
The alert provided coordinates advising vessels to stay north of Yemen in the Red Sea and East of most of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden.
A previous alert, issued last week after US-led forces conducted strikes against Houthi facilities in Yemen, advised ships to avoid the area until Jan. 19.
That timeline has now been extended indefinitely.