Multi-national operation to safeguard Red Sea launches following Houthi attacks in the area

The United States and a host of other nations are creating a new force to protect ships transiting the Red Sea that have come under attack by drones and ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, US officials have said.

The seriousness of the attacks, several of which have damaged the vessels, has led multiple shipping companies to order their ships to hold in place and not enter the Bab el-Mandeb Strait until the security situation can be addressed.

“This is an international challenge that demands collective action,” Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement.

“Therefore today I am announcing the establishment of Operation Prosperity Guardian, an important new multinational security initiative.”

The UK, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain will join the US in the new mission, Austin said.

Some of the countries will conduct joint patrols while others provide intelligence support in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The mission will be coordinated by the already existing Combined Task Force 153, which was set up in April 2022 to improve maritime security in the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb and the Gulf of Aden.

There have been 39 member nations in CTF 153, but officials were working to determine which of them would participate in this latest effort.

Three US warships - the USS Carney and the USS Mason, Navy destroyers - have been moving through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait daily to help deter and respond to attacks from the Houthis.

The move to set up the expanded operation came after three commercial vessels were struck by missiles fired by Iranian-back Houthis in Yemen on December 3.

Those attacks were part of an escalating campaign of violence that also included armed and other drones launched in the direction of US warships.

To date the US has not struck back at the Iranian-back Houthis operating in Yemen or targeted any of the militants’ weapons or other sites.

Mr Austin did not answer a question as to why the Pentagon had not conducted a counterstrike.

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