• Red Sea shipping has plunged into chaos amid attacks on vessels by Iran-linked Houthi rebels.

• The region is a vital trade route between Europe and Asia.

• Several major shippers, including BP and Maersk, have rerouted or delayed vessels.

Merchant ships passing through a vital global trade route are turning off tracking signals in order to avoid attacks.

Several container ships in the Red Sea have gone dark and taken steps to conceal their locations as attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels increase in response to Israel's war against Hamas, Reuters reported.

In some cases, ships are broadcasting their destination as "ARMED GUARD ON BOARD," according to data on tracking websites.

The Red Sea is a vital oceanic link between Europe and Asia, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean and beyond via the Suez Canal. About 12% of all global trade passes through the region, according to the CEO of the German Shipowners' Association.

An alternate route around the southern tip of Africa and up its Atlantic coast adds some 3,000 nautical miles and 12 days to a ship's transit. Several major shippers, including BP, Evergreen, and Maersk, have paused shipments or rerouted vessels in the wake of recent attacks.

The Houthis — which are armed and supported by Iran — have asserted that their assault on international shipping is a direct response to Israeli operations inside the Gaza Strip. For weeks now, the rebels have attacked commercial vessels off the coast of Yemen with drones and ballistic missiles, and in some cases have even scored direct hits and caused minor damage.

American, British, and French warships on patrol in the region have been tasked with shooting down dozens of these threats while also rendering assistance to commercial vessels under Houthi fire. The ongoing attacks, which show no sign of letting up, have raised questions of whether or not the US military will strike the rebels in Yemen, as it has done in the past.

Facing pressure to respond more directly to this growing problem, the Pentagon on Monday announced a new multinational initiative — dubbed "Operation Prosperity Guardian" — in a bid to protect ships sailing off the coast of Yemen. The new task force consists of several European countries, including the UK and France.

"This is an international challenge that demands collective action," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said.