USA (Washington Insider Magazine)—The US has announced establishing an international task force to safeguard ships in the Red Sea from Houthi strikes. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin described it as an international challenge.
On Monday, the Pentagon affirmed establishing a global naval task force to safeguard commercial ships in the Red sea. Houthi missiles and drone attacks in the Red Sea have been witnessed in the last few weeks. The Force will look after the Gulf of Aden. The situation has been escalated in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war. The task force will be known as “Operation Prosperity Guardian.” According to Officials, it will create a counter-piracy task in the region known as Task Force 153.
The United States, the U.K., Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain are included as participating countries. Each of them will contribute to ships and other resources in the new effort. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told in a statement revealing the new operation. He said this challenge demands collective action.
It is believed that Houthi militants in Yemen have carried out nearly a dozen attacks on commercial shipping. The Houthis attacks are linked to Israel’s retaliation on Hamas. The strikes have raised concern that the war could provoke a broader conflict in the Middle East. U.S. officials have expressed that the Houthis threaten vital shipping routes.
Several international shipping firms have stated their ships have been told not to enter the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. It splits the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Austin said, “Countries that seek to uphold the foundational principle of freedom of navigation must come together.” The US administration has also imposed new sanctions on people who are financially backing the Houthis. White House blamed Iran for delivering key weapons to the group.
On his recent visit to Israel, Austin previewed the task force’s establishment. He also reaffirmed statements by senior U.S. officials that the increasing number of Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea was a global problem. Further, he contended that it required an international solution. “These attacks are reckless, dangerous, and violate international law, and so we’re building an international coalition to address this threat, ” he said during a press conference in Tel Aviv.
The Houthis have controlled large areas of indigent Yemen. They have threatened to target all ships heading to Israel. They cautioned international shipping companies against dealing with Israeli ports regardless of their nationality. They have also launched missiles at Israel more than 1,000 miles away. Further, the group said, the U.S.-led protection force would not prevent them from attacking. Recently, Houthis claimed a drone attack on two cargo vessels in the region. In addition to the Houthi aggression, Iran’s proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon has also shot rockets across the frontier with Israel.
Moreover, Ambrey said it received a report of a possible attempt 17 miles from west of Yemen’s Aden port city. Ambery is a British maritime security firm. Further, they added that the attack was foiled and all staff were safe. Another report of an incident occurred 80 nautical miles northeast of Djibouti at the mouth of the Red Sea. United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations disclosed this information.
Red Sea task force already operated by US Naval forces that had strengthened its presence in the crucial waterway. However, it is unclear how many countries will send further ships or patrol aircraft. The creation of the new maritime operation is not an easy task.
According to US officials, the supervision of the new U.S.-led force will also fall under existing command structures of US armed Forces. On the contrary, many key Arab partners of the United States have refused to join.
Roughly 12% of world shipping traffic usually travels through the Suez Canal. It is considered the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia. It passes then into the Red Sea waters off Yemen. Oil major BP’s has already announced to temporarily halt all transit through the Red Sea. Oil tanker group Frontline expressed that its vessels would bypass passage through the endangered waterway. It also highlighted the crisis is widening to include energy shipments. On Monday, Crude oil prices increased owing to these crises.
