The Philippines on Friday urged mariners to avoid the Red Sea, amid fears over missile and drone attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The Iran-backed group has launched attacks on commercial ships in the region since the start of the Gaza war. “Philippine nationals should avoid the area altogether unless absolutely necessary for their livelihood,” the Foreign Ministry said, warning of “conflict escalation in the Red Sea that poses a clear and present danger to all Filipino seafarers working in the area”.
