Iran-backed Houthi rebels are acting like “bandits” in the Red Sea trying to stop international trade, the US is warning as it leads a taskforce to stop the attacks.
The Pentagon said more than 20 countries had agreed to join Operation Prosperity Guardian to counter the drone and missile strikes being launched at commercial ships from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
Britain has sent HMS Diamond as part of the operation but details of some others countries participating in the mission remain scant.
Air Force Major General Pat Ryder, press secretary at the Pentagon, said: “It’s very important to understand that the Houthis aren’t attacking just one country, they’re really attacking the international community.
“They are attacking the economic well-being and prosperity of nations around the world. So in effect, they really become bandits along the international highway that is the Red Sea.”
Operation Prosperity Guardian ships from the US, Britain and other countries would patrol shipping lanes to protect vessels moving through the Red Sea.
He added that the maritime force was expected to grow in size, with more countries contributing either ships or military personnel.
“It’s a defensive coalition meant to reassure global shipping and mariners that the international community is there to help with safe passage,” he stressed.
Several commercial vessels have been struck, with some companies temporarily ceasing shipments through the Red Sea.
At least eight of the countries taking part in the taskforce are believed to have declined to be publicly named, in a sign of political sensitivities of the operation as regional tensions soar over the Israel-Hamas war.
“We’ve had over 20 nations now sign on to participate,” Maj Gen Ryder said, noting declarations by Greece and Australia.
“We’ll allow other countries, defer to them to talk about their participation.”
The United States recently launched Operation Prosperity Guardian, saying more than a dozen countries had agreed to participate in the effort that will involve joint patrols in Red Sea waters near Yemen.
Each country will contribute what they can, Maj Gen Ryder said, dubbing it a “coalition of the willing.”
“In some cases that will include vessels. In other cases, it could include staff or other types of support."
The crisis in the Red Sea has grown out of the war between Israel and terror group Hamas.
The latest escalation in the conflict began on October 7 when Hamas fighters stormed across the Gaza border into southern Israel and killed about 1,200 mostly civilian Israelis and foreigners, taking around 240 people hostage.
Israel’s retaliatory bombardment and invasion of Gaza, which Israeli officials state is aimed at wiping out Hamas, has killed more than 20,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in the densely populated, coastal enclave.
Iranian proxies including the Houthis and Lebanese Hezbollah have fired rockets at Israel since the conflict began. The Houthis, meanwhile, have stepped up their Red Sea attacks, threatening to target all ships heading to Israel and warning shipping companies against dealing with Israeli ports.
The attacks have disrupted a key trade route that links Europe and North America with Asia via the Suez Canal and caused container shipping costs to rise sharply as companies seek to ship their goods via alternative, often longer, routes.
The US, British and French navies have responded by shooting down Houthi drones and missiles.
America’s Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Tuesday the plans to set up the multinational coalition to safeguard Red Sea shipping called Operation Prosperity Guardian.
During a trip to the Middle East, he said the operations would be joined by Britain, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain.
On Thursday, Mr Austin said Greece and Australia had also joined the grouping, taking it to a total of 20, but added that at least eight countries taking part have declined to be publicly named.
Here is what other countries are saying publicly:
BRITAIN
Britain said destroyer HMS Diamond would join Operation Prosperity Guardian. The Ministry of Defence said the coalition would operate as part of the US-led CMF (Combined Maritime Forces).
FRANCE
France’s Defence Ministry said it supported efforts to secure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and surrounding area and said it already operated in the region. But it said its ships would stay under French command and did not say if it would deploy more naval forces.
France has a naval base in the United Arab Emirates and 1,500 troops in Djibouti. Its frigate Languedoc is now in the Red Sea.
ITALY
Italy’s Defence Ministry said it would send naval frigate Virginio Fasan to the Red Sea to protect its national interests in response to specific requests made by Italian shipowners.
It said this was part of its existing operations and was not part of Operation Prosperity Guardian.
SPAIN
Spain’s Defence Ministry said it would only participate in NATO-led missions or EU-coordinated operations. “We will not participate unilaterally in the Red Sea operation,” it said.
GREECE
Greece said on Thursday it would send a naval frigate to the Red Sea and that it would participate in Operation Prosperity Guardian.
The Netherlands said it would send two staff officers and Norway said it would send 10 naval officers to Bahrain, the headquarters of CMF. Denmark said on Wednesday that it would take part in the operation, sending one officer.
Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) is a multinational maritime partnership led by the US from Bahrain, the based for the US Navy Fifth Fleet. CMF has 39 members, including NATO and European states, regional countries and other nations.
One of its missions is the Combined Task Force 153 (CTF 153), which operates in the Red Sea.
