US initiates Naval Coalition to protect Red Sea Shipping from Houthi threats

Posted on December 26, 2023   |  

The US announced a strengthened naval protection force in the southern Red Sea to counter increasing Houthi attacks on merchant shipping.

Operation Prosperity Guardian, the newly introduced initiative, sees participation from the UK and several nations, excluding notables like Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

This effort is in response to the recent surge in Houthi attacks originating from Yemen, aiming to safeguard shipping in the region.

Participating nations include Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain.

Shipping giant Maersk reroutes vessels around Africa due to the escalating situation, with other major companies also altering traffic plans.

Houthi tactics shift from long-range missile attacks to seizing merchant ships, evident in recent attacks on the USS Carney and the Swan Atlantic tanker.

International defense efforts intensified, with Britain contributing HMS Diamond and three US destroyers to Operation Prosperity Guardian.