The United States Pentagon announced the launch of Operation Prosperity Guardian to defend Red Sea shipping lanes following a series of Houthi attacks in the past few weeks.
On Monday, American officials expanded a multinational maritime force in the Red Sea to fight against escalating attacks from Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The assaults have continuously impeded international shipping routes in the region.
Operation Prosperity Guardian
In a statement, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that the recent escalation in reckless Houthi attacks that originated from Yemen threatens the free flow of commerce, endangers innocent mariners, and violates international law.
The new defense, known as Operation Prosperity Guardian, builds on the power of the Combined Maritime Forces. This is a 39-member international coalition that operates under the US Navy Fifth Fleet in Bahrain to protect maritime access and stability.
A subdivision of the forces, known as Task Force 153, is specifically dedicated to the Red Sea. In a statement on Monday, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that they are trying to strengthen and bolster the force and operationalize it in ways that it has not been prior to the recent Houthi attacks, as per CNBC.
The expansion of the force came after a flood of companies opted to temporarily suspend their shipping activity along the popular Suez Canal route. This was due to the elevated threat from the Houthi rebels. Oil giant GP announced on Monday that it would also pause its shipping in the Red Sea, joining other companies such as Maersk, MSC, and others.
Operation Prosperity Guardian seeks to deter further Houthi attacks in the Red Sea as the US eyes potential flare-ups of regional conflict amid the Israel-Hamas war. The American government has so far been able to shoot down dozens of Houthi drones that were heading towards commercial vessels.
Houthi Attacks in the Red Sea
The development comes as Austin is currently visiting Israel and has several meetings scheduled on Tuesday to discuss further responses to the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. Kirby said that he expected more details on the Red Sea defense strategy to be unveiled after the talks with regional officials.
The operation brings together multiple countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, and others. They seek to jointly address security challenges in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. According to the Air and Space Forces Magazine, their goal is to ensure freedom of navigation for all nations and bolster regional security and prosperity.
Houthi rebel leaders said that the escalating attacks on commercial vessels were made in retaliation for Israel's offensive against Hamas. The incidents have steadily increased, as 11 were recorded since mid-November. The US said on Sunday that one of its warships, the USS Carney, shot down 14 attack drones that Houthi rebels launched from Yemen.
Following a trip to Bahrain, Austin will stop aboard the USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier, which is currently in the eastern Mediterranean, and he is set to travel to Qatar later on, said the Financial Times.
