A 10-nation against the Houthis was announced by the USA, which includes France, the UK, Bahrain, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and the Seychelles. The alliance was formed to prevent rebel attacks against ships.

The US Secretary of Defence announced the formation of a 10-nation alliance in the Red Sea to counter attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis against ships that are supposedly linked to Israel.

The recent escalation of irresponsible Houthi attacks from Yemeni territory threatens the free flow of trade, endangers the lives of innocent seafarers, and violates international law, he underlined. For this reason, Operation “Prosperity Guardian” has been launched, added the US Secretary.

During his visit to Israel, Austin demanded that Iran end its support for Yemen’s Shiite rebel operations against merchant ships following talks with Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel is not part of the alliance, but maintains warships in the Red Sea to deter Houthi attacks.

Earlier on Monday, the Houthis claimed responsibility for new attacks in the Red Sea targeting two merchant ships that were supposedly linked to Israel.

In the early morning hours of December 16 (Sanna time) the US Arliegh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS CARNEY (DDG 64), operating in the Red Sea, successfully engaged 14 unmanned aerial systems launched as a drone wave from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. The UAS were… pic.twitter.com/Rjkzng5LxW

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 16, 2023

In fact, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Carney shot down 14 UAVs, launched against it from South Yemen and the Iran-backed Houthis, in perhaps the first recorded saturation attack on a ship. It is recalled that a few days ago a French frigate also shot down Iranian drones.

Also read: Red Sea | French frigate shoots down two UAVs from Yemen

Houthi rebels said today they have no intention of ending their attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea, despite the United States announcing a new alliance to protect shipping.

Ships now prefer to avoid passing through the strategically important Bab al-Mandab strait, which separates the Arabian Peninsula from Africa and through which 40% of world trade passes.

The Houthis, who control much of Yemen, have warned that they will now target any ship passing off the country’s coast if it has ties to Israel, in retaliation for the war against Hamas terrorists. Houthi missiles and drones have been shot down by warships patrolling the sea area recently.

The Red Sea is characterized as the “motorway of the sea”, as it connects the Mediterranean with the Indian Ocean, i.e. Europe with Asia. About 20,000 ships pass through the Suez Canal each year, the entry and exit point for vessels passing through the Red Sea. When not going through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, ships are forced to circumnavigate Africa, passing through the Cape of Good Hope, which makes travel much more expensive.

For the Rotterdam-Singapore connection, this detour lengthens the journey by 40%, from about 8,400 nautical miles (15,550 km) to 11,720 miles (21,700 km), according to S&P Global. Several ships, notably from shipping companies Maersk and MSC, are already following this route in recent days, according to the same source.

Also read: Israel | Fills Hamas tunnels in Gaza with sea water