The United States intends to establish a maritime coalition of the most extensive scope possible to safeguard vessels in the Red Sea from additional assaults by the Houthis of Yemen.
Concerns have increased about the potential escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza more than two months ago, as the Iran-aligned Houthis have launched drone and missile assaults against vessels in Red Sea shipping lanes and engaged in hostilities against Israel.
U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters last week that Washington was in talks with other nations to create a maritime task force to “ensure safe passage of ships in the Red Sea,” but provided no details.
Iran declared on Thursday that an entity of this nature would encounter unprecedented challenges.
U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking stated that the United States desired the multi-national coalition to convey to the international community that Houthi threats against international shipping would not be tolerated.
Currently stationed in Bahrain, Combined Task Force 153 is a multinational coalition of 39 countries operating in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The U.S. calls on the Houthis to release the crew of the Galaxy Leader ship seized on Nov. 19 for de-escalating.
