United States Launches Multinational Patrol In Red Sea To Respond To Houthi Attack

JAKARTA - A number of countries agreed to jointly conduct patrols in the southern Red Sea and Aden Bay, to try to protect commercial shipping from Yemen's Houthis insurgent attacks.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, during his visit to Bahrain, identified several countries that took part in international forces. It is unclear whether these countries are willing to do what US warships have done in recent days, shooting down Houthis missiles and drones, and rushing to help attacked commercial ships.

"This is an international challenge that requires collective action. Therefore today I announce the establishment of Operation Prosperity Guardian, an important new multinational security initiative," Defense Secretary Austin said in a statement Tuesday.

The report identified participating countries led by the United States, including Bahrain, England, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the Seychelles and Spain.

Iran-backed Houthi groups have entered the Israeli-Hamas conflict by attacking ships on important shipping lines and even firing drones and missiles at Israel, more than 1,000 miles from their center of power in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa.

Separately, the Houthis attacked two commercial shipping vessels in the southern Red Sea on Monday, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement. The Swan Atlantic chemical tanker was attacked by drones and anti-ship ballistic missiles, he said.

At almost the same time in a separate incident, the bulk cargo ship MSC Clara reported an explosion in the waters near its location, CENTCOM said. No injuries were reported by the two ships.

Meanwhile, Houthi spokesman Yahya Sarea on Monday identified the same ship that was attacked and said the drone was used because the crew failed to respond to calls from the group.

The Houthis have threatened to target all ships bound for Israel, regardless of nationality, and warn international shipping companies against dealing with Israeli ports.

Mohammed al-Bukhati, a member of the Houthi politburo, told Al Jazeera on Monday his group would be able to face a US-led coalition that could deploy its troops to the Red Sea.