Title: U.S.-UK Strikes on Houthis Disrupt LNG Ships

The escalation in the region has delayed at least four liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers at the beginning of the week after U.S. and British forces launched dozens of airstrikes against Houthi forces. According to vessel tracking data from LSEG, the carriers Al-Ghariya, Al-Huwailah, and Al-Naaman were loaded in Ras Laffan, Qatar, and were supposed to head to the Suez Canal but stalled off the coast of Oman on January 14. The ships halted on January 13 while en route through the Red Sea. An informed source stated, "It’s a stoppage for security advice. If transit through the Red Sea remains unsafe, we will divert around the Cape of Good Hope." The source added, "It’s not about halting production." Neither the International Media Office of the State of Qatar nor Qatar Energy has issued any comment or confirmation. Ships avoiding the Suez Canal must navigate around the African continent via the Cape of Good Hope. Oil prices rose 1% on Friday following the strikes but stabilized on Monday as investors awaited any disruption to oil or gas supplies in the Middle East.