Business as usual for Suez Canal as Egypt denies suspension

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Egyptian officials say that the Suez Canal is operating normally and that there is no suspension of navigation in the key waterway.

This is according to a statement by Lieutenant General Osama Rabie, who is the chairman of the Suez Canal Authority.

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In a statement published on news agency WAM, Rabie said navigation movement in the canal is regular from both directions and he denied allegations of a temporary suspension because of the challenges currently being experienced in the Red Sea.

Overnight, the US and Britain are said to have carried out a second wave of targeted attacks against Houthi rebels. Since October, the Houthis have carried out several attacks on tankers traversing the Red Sea, thereby disrupting the shipping route.

READ MORE: Oil prices rise after US, Britain strike Houthi targets

‏WAM reported that Rabie said that “the Suez Canal provides its navigation services normally, as the navigation movement in the canal, Saturday, is expected to witness the crossing of 44 ships from both directions, with a total cargo of 2.3 million tonnes.”