U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin makes a joint statement with Israel Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, after their meeting about Israel's military operation in Gaza, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. Maya Alleruzzo/AP hide caption
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Maya Alleruzzo/AP
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin makes a joint statement with Israel Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, after their meeting about Israel's military operation in Gaza, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Dec. 18, 2023.
Maya Alleruzzo/AP
MANAMA, Bahrain — The U.S. and a host of other nations are creating a new force to protect ships transiting the Red Sea that have come under attack by drones and ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Tuesday in Bahrain.
The seriousness of the attacks, several of which have damaged vessels, has led multiple shipping companies to order their ships to hold in place and not enter the Bab el-Mandeb Strait until the security situation can be addressed.
The U.S. military's Central Command reported two more of the attacks on commercial vessels Monday. A strike by an attack drone and a ballistic missile hit a tanker off Yemen, at roughly the same time a cargo ship reported an explosive detonating in the water near them, the military said.
"This is an international challenge that demands collective action," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement released just after midnight in Bahrain. "Therefore today I am announcing the establishment of Operation Prosperity Guardian, an important new multinational security initiative."
There are about 400 commercial vessels transiting the southern Red Sea, an area roughly the size of Washington D.C. to Boston, at any given time, a senior military official told reporters who are traveling with Austin in the region.
Under the new mission, the military ships will not necessarily escort a specific vessel, but will be positioned to provide umbrella protection to as many as possible at a given time, the official said on the condition of anonymity to provide additional details not made public on how the new operation will work.
Mohammed Abdel-Salam, the Houthis' chief negotiator and spokesman, on Tuesday challenged the U.S.-created coalition, saying the Iranian-backed rebels would continue targeting Israel-linked vessels off Yemen.
"The American-formed coalition is to protect Israel and militarize the sea without any justification, and will not stop Yemen from continuing its legitimate operations in support of Gaza," he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
He said the Houthis' attacks "are not a show of force nor a challenge to anyone," adding, "Whoever seeks to expand the conflict must bear the consequences of his actions."
On Tuesday the shipping company Maersk announced that for now, it had decided to re-route its ships that have been paused for days outside the strait and Red Sea, and send them around Africa through the Cape of Good Hope instead — a much longer and less efficient passage. Maersk said it welcomed the international security effort, but at the present time, the much longer route would provide "more predictable outcomes" for its customers.
In the last four weeks, Houthi militants have attacked or seized commercial ships 12 times, and still hold 25 members of the MV Galaxy Leader hostage in Yemen, Austin said in remarks Tuesday in a ministerial meeting on the new maritime mission. The U.S. is still actively seeking member countries to join the mission, and increase the number of navies present and participating.
The United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain have joined the new maritime security mission, Austin said. Some of those countries will conduct joint patrols while others provide intelligence support in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
One notably absent participant is China, which has warships in the region, but those ships have not responded to previous calls for assistance by commercial vessels, even though some of the ships attacked have had ties to Hong Kong, the military official said.
Several other countries have also agreed to be involved in the operation but prefer not to be publicly named, a defense official said on the condition of anonymity to discuss additional details of the new mission that have not been publicly announced.
The new maritime security mission will be coordinated by the already existing Combined Task Force 153, which was set up in April 2022 to improve maritime security in the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb and the Gulf of Aden. While the task force has primarily provided a headquarters structure to date, the goal of the new mission is to provide ships and other assets to carry out the protection. There have been 39 member nations in CTF 153, but officials were working to determine which of them would participate in this latest effort.
Separately, the United States has also called on the United Nations Security Council to take action against the attacks.
In a letter to council members obtained Monday by The Associated Press, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Houthi attacks targeting commercial vessels legally transiting the international waterways continue to threaten "navigational rights and freedoms, international maritime security, and international commerce."
The 15 council members discussed the Houthi threat behind closed doors Monday but took no immediate action.
Two U.S. warships — the USS Carney and the USS Mason, Navy destroyers — are currently moving through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to help deter and respond to attacks from the Houthis.
The move to set up the expanded operation came after three commercial vessels were struck by missiles fired by Iranian-back Houthis in Yemen on Dec. 3. Those attacks were part of an escalating campaign of violence that also included armed and other drones launched in the direction of U.S. warships.
To date, the U.S. has not struck back at the Iranian-back Houthis operating in Yemen or targeted any of the militants' weapons or other sites. On Monday Austin did not answer a question as to why the Pentagon had not conducted a counterstrike.
As an expert in international relations and security affairs, it's evident from the recent developments in the Red Sea region that the situation demands a comprehensive understanding of geopolitical dynamics and military strategies. The article you've provided offers insights into a critical development in the region: the establishment of Operation Prosperity Guardian to protect ships transiting the Red Sea from attacks by drones and ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
Let's break down the key concepts and actors involved in this complex geopolitical scenario:
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U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin: Lloyd Austin is a key figure in this context, having announced the establishment of Operation Prosperity Guardian. His role involves coordinating international efforts to address the security challenges posed by Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.
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Operation Prosperity Guardian: This is a multinational security initiative led by the U.S. and supported by a coalition of nations. Its primary objective is to protect commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea from attacks by drones and ballistic missiles originating from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen.
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Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen: The Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, have been conducting attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. The motivations behind these attacks are rooted in geopolitical and ideological factors, challenging the security and stability of the region.
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Bab el-Mandeb Strait: The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a strategic chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and ultimately the Indian Ocean. Its control is vital for maritime trade, making it a focal point in the ongoing security concerns.
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International Coalition: The formation of a multinational coalition, including the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain, underscores the global nature of the security challenge. These nations are contributing to joint patrols and intelligence support in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
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China's absence: Notably absent from the coalition is China, despite having warships in the region. The article points out that China has not responded to previous calls for assistance, raising questions about its stance and interests in the Red Sea security dynamics.
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Combined Task Force 153: The new maritime security mission will be coordinated by Combined Task Force 153, established in April 2022 to enhance maritime security in the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb, and the Gulf of Aden. The task force is evolving from providing headquarters structure to actively deploying ships and assets for protection.
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UN Security Council involvement: The United States has called on the United Nations Security Council to address the Houthi threat through international diplomatic channels. The council, as of the article's information, has discussed the matter but has not taken immediate action.
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U.S. warships USS Carney and USS Mason: These two Navy destroyers are actively engaged in the region, moving through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to deter and respond to potential attacks from the Houthi rebels.
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Houthi attacks and the U.S. response: The article highlights a series of Houthi attacks on commercial vessels, including missiles fired on December 3. Despite these provocations, the U.S. has not conducted a counterstrike at the time of the article.
This multifaceted situation underscores the complexity of contemporary geopolitical challenges, involving military, diplomatic, and economic dimensions. Operation Prosperity Guardian represents a concerted effort by the international community to address the security concerns in the Red Sea, emphasizing the need for collective action to ensure the free and secure passage of commercial vessels in this strategically significant maritime region.
