Swedish furniture retailer IKEA has warned of product delays following the attacks by Houthi rebels on ships in the Red Sea.

The Houthis, backed by Iran rebels, have been using drones and rockets to attack foreign-owned vessels transporting goods through the strait of Bab-al-Mandab.

The Bab-al-Mandeb acts as a strategic link between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.

The rebel strikes on ships have increased, which are, according to the rebels, an act of revenge against Israel for its military campaign in Gaza.

The strikes have forced some companies to re-route to avoid the attacks, with IKEA saying it is looking for other options to ensure its products will be available to customers.

An IKEA statement said: “What we can share for now is that the situation in the Suez Canal will result in delays and may cause availability constraints for certain IKEA products.”