Early today, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the formation of a multinational force intended to safeguard maritime trade in the Red Sea, following attacks carried out by the Houthis on ships headed to Israel.
In a statement during his visit to Bahrain, home to the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters, Austin mentioned that the coalition comprises the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain. The force, dubbed "Guardian of Prosperity," will conduct joint patrols in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
The U.S. Secretary further explained that the new task force aims to ensure freedom of navigation and bolster regional security. Austin characterized the escalation by the Houthis as a threat to the free flow of trade and a violation of international law.
On Monday, in a press conference in Tel Aviv after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the U.S. Defense Secretary urged Iran to stop supporting Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. Austin also mentioned that he would meet with defense ministers from the region on Tuesday to discuss strategies for managing the threat posed by the Houthis to navigation in the Red Sea, expressing his anticipation of forming an international alliance to secure maritime navigation.
Bloomberg had reported, citing an American official, that the White House is communicating with the Houthi group through Oman and various other intermediaries, urging them to halt their attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. A Houthi spokesperson confirmed the existence of these communications to Bloomberg but stated that the group would continue its attacks until Israel ceases aggression on Gaza.
Red Sea Attacks
The announcement of the multinational force occurred just hours after the Houthis declared they had targeted more ships in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait. This follows threats from the U.S. and Israel of a military response to the Houthi group's attacks.
The U.S. Central Command reported that on Monday, the Houthis launched two new attacks on an oil tanker and a cargo ship in the southern Red Sea. In response, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a call with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, condemned the Houthi attack on the two vessels.
The military spokesman for the Houthis, Yahya Saree, announced on Monday that their forces carried out a "high-quality military operation" against two ships with ties to Israel. On his X (formerly Twitter) account, he disclosed that the targets were the oil-laden "Swan Atlantic" and the container-bearing "MSC Clara," both struck by maritime drones.
Saree assured that all ships bound for ports worldwide, except those destined for Israeli ports, will not be harmed and should keep their identification systems active. He also reaffirmed the group's commitment to preventing all vessels from navigating to Israeli ports in the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea until Gaza's population necessities, like food and medicine, are allowed in.
Subsequent to the Houthi attacks, several global shipping companies suspended operations in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab, with some redirecting their vessels temporarily via the Cape of Good Hope.
