"British Petroleum" suspends the transit of its ships through the Red Sea

British energy company BP said it was joining other companies in suspending Red Sea transits after Yemen's Houthi rebels carried out a series of attacks.

"In view of the deteriorating security situation for shipping in the Red Sea, BP has decided to temporarily suspend all transits," the company said in a statement, AFP reported.

BP joins Italian-Swiss giant MSC, French CMA CGM and two more of the world's largest shipping companies - Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd.

Oil prices rose as a result of this decision.

International benchmark Brent crude added 1% to $77.33 a barrel. Its U.S. equivalent, West Texas Intermediate, rose 0.9 percent to $72.10 a barrel. /BGNES