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Pentagon Announces New International Mission to Counter Attacks on Commercial Vessels in Red Sea
(AP-Washington Post) Tara Copp - The U.S. and a host of other nations are creating a new force to protect ships transiting the Red Sea that have come under attack by drones and ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Tuesday in Bahrain. The seriousness of the attacks, several of which have damaged the vessels, has led multiple shipping companies to not enter the Bab el-Mandeb Strait until the security situation can be addressed. U.S. Central Command reported two more attacks on commercial vessels Monday. There are about 400 commercial vessels in the southern Red Sea at any given time. Operation Prosperity Guardian will include joint patrols and intelligence support in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden by the U.S., UK, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain. China has warships in the region, but those ships have not responded to previous calls for assistance by commercial vessels.