US prepares anti Houthi task force
Military escalation in the Middle East between allies of Palestinian Resistance and allies of Israel has increased, despite recent efforts by western countries to calm tensions between Hezbollah and Israel.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Operation Prosperity Guardian to fight the “reckless Houthi attacks” in the Red Sea, on December 18.
UK, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain are the countries included in this naval task force.
“The recent escalation in reckless Houthi attacks originating from Yemen threatens the free flow of commerce, endangers innocent mariners, and violates international law,” Austin said in a statement. He added that the Red Sea is an important passage that has been essential to international commerce.
US officials have affirmed they were looking at ways to expand a task force, Combined Task Force 153, which currently is based in Bahrain. CTF-153 is composed of 39 member nations, even though this particular plan is involving these 12 nations.
The Yemenis Houthis have been attacking Israel since it continues to indiscriminately bomb besieged Gaza Strip. They said they will forbid any nation’s ship to reach Israel, until the country allows food, medicines and humanitarian aid to enter in the Palestinian enclave.
US warships have also come into close proximity to missiles and projectiles fired by the Yemeni group, reported Al Arabyia.
The Houthis attacked the Motor Tanker STRINDA last week using an anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM) while it was crossing Bab al-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea. They claimed the attack and said they targeted it because it was going to deliver oil to Israel.
READ: Yemeni rebels attack 3 vessels in Red Sea
The US military affirm to have every reason to believe that the four attacks on vessels in the Red Sea of this month were “fully enabled” by Iran, despite being launched by the Houthis, adding that the country is considering “all appropriate responses.”
On December 14, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin discussed the Houthi menace to freedom of navigation in the Red Sea with regional officials.
Al Arabiya
