US announces multinational force to deter Houthi attacks in Red Sea
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The U.S. announced on Monday the formation of a new multinational force to protect international trade in the Red Sea following increasing attacks by Yemen’s Houthi militia.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced in a statement the establishment of Operation Prosperity Guardian, a “new multinational security initiative,” which focuses on security in the Red Sea.
Operation Prosperity Guardian includes the UK, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain.
Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, the Iranian-backed Houthi militia has increased attacks against commercial ships. They claimed to target ships that have links to Israel.
As a result, many shipping companies have suspended transit due to security reasons.
Austin said the Houthi attacks violate international law and threaten the flow of commerce.
“This is an international challenge that demands collective action,” he said.
The new joint force is under the umbrella of the Combined Maritime Forces and the leadership of its Task Force 153.
This initiative aims to “jointly address security challenges in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, with the goal of ensuring freedom of navigation for all countries and bolstering regional security and prosperity,” according to Austin.