Red Sea
A total of more than 20 countries have agreed to participate in the new U.S.-led coalition safeguarding commercial traffic in the Red Sea from attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement as more nations join the effort, the Pentagon said on Thursday.
Names to be kept hidden
However, the updated Pentagon figure implies that at least eight of the participating nations have also chosen not to have their identities made public, indicating the political delicate nature of the operation at a time when tensions in the region are rising due to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
“We’ve had over 20 nations now sign on to participate,” Major General Patrick Ryder said, noting declarations by Greece and Australia.
“We’ll allow other countries, defer to them to talk about their participation.”
Operation Prosperity Guardian
Two days ago, the United States announced the commencement of Operation Prosperity Guardian, claiming that over a dozen nations had committed to taking part in coordinated patrols in Red Sea waters close to Yemen. According to Ryder, every nation will make whatever contribution they are able to, calling it a “coalition of the willing.”
“In some cases that will include vessels. In other cases, it could include staff or other types of support,” he told a news briefing.
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This has connections with Israel Hamas war
The conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist organization in control of Gaza, is what gave rise to the current Red Sea issue. The conflict started on October 7 when Hamas terrorists broke through the Gaza border and entered southern Israel. According to Israeli officials, the militants killed roughly 1,200 people, the majority of them were civilian Israelis and foreigners.
Health professionals in the heavily populated coastal enclave of Gaza report that about 20,000 Palestinians have died as a result of Israel’s retaliatory shelling and invasion of the territory, which Israeli officials claim is intended to eradicate Hamas.
Israel targeted by Iranian proxies
Since the start of the conflict, Israel has been targeted by rocket fire from Iranian proxies such as the Houthis and Hezbollah in Lebanon. In the meantime, the Houthis have intensified their attacks in the Red Sea, threatening to destroy any ship that sails toward Israel and cautioning shipping firms not to do business with Israeli ports.
The attacks have prompted a substantial increase in container shipping rates as businesses look to move their goods via alternate, frequently longer routes, disrupting a vital commercial route that connects Europe and North America with Asia via the Suez Canal.
In retaliation, the navies of the United States, Great Britain, and France have shot down Houthi drones and missiles; nevertheless, some critics in Washington argue that these defensive measures are insufficient to deter the Houthis from carrying out more attacks.
