U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin makes a joint assertion with Israel Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, after their assembly about Israel’s army operation in Gaza, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Dec. 18, 2023.

Maya Alleruzzo/AP

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Maya Alleruzzo/AP

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin makes a joint assertion with Israel Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, after their assembly about Israel’s army operation in Gaza, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Dec. 18, 2023.

Maya Alleruzzo/AP

MANAMA, Bahrain — The U.S. and a bunch of different nations are creating a brand new pressure to guard ships transiting the Red Sea which have come beneath assault by drones and ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin introduced Tuesday in Bahrain.

The seriousness of the assaults, a number of of which have broken vessels, has led a number of transport firms to order their ships to carry in place and never enter the Bab el-Mandeb Strait till the safety scenario might be addressed.

The U.S. army’s Central Command reported two extra of the assaults on industrial vessels Monday. A strike by an assault drone and a ballistic missile hit a tanker off Yemen, at roughly the identical time a cargo ship reported an explosive detonating within the water close to them, the army stated.

“This is an international challenge that demands collective action,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated in an announcement launched simply after midnight in Bahrain. “Therefore today I am announcing the establishment of Operation Prosperity Guardian, an important new multinational security initiative.”

There are about 400 industrial vessels transiting the southern Red Sea, an space roughly the dimensions of Washington D.C. to Boston, at any given time, a senior army official instructed reporters who’re touring with Austin within the area.

Under the brand new mission, the army ships won’t essentially escort a particular vessel, however shall be positioned to supply umbrella safety to as many as potential at a given time, the official stated on the situation of anonymity to supply extra particulars not made public on how the brand new operation will work.

Mohammed Abdel-Salam, the Houthis’ chief negotiator and spokesman, on Tuesday challenged the U.S.-created coalition, saying the Iranian-backed rebels would proceed focusing on Israel-linked vessels off Yemen.

“The American-formed coalition is to protect Israel and militarize the sea without any justification, and will not stop Yemen from continuing its legitimate operations in support of Gaza,” he wrote on X, previously Twitter.

He stated the Houthis’ assaults “are not a show of force nor a challenge to anyone,” including, “Whoever seeks to expand the conflict must bear the consequences of his actions.”

On Tuesday the transport firm Maersk introduced that for now, it had determined to re-route its ships which have been paused for days outdoors the strait and Red Sea, and ship them round Africa via the Cape of Good Hope as an alternative — a for much longer and fewer environment friendly passage. Maersk stated it welcomed the worldwide safety effort, however at the moment, the for much longer route would offer “more predictable outcomes” for its clients.

In the final 4 weeks, Houthi militants have attacked or seized industrial ships 12 occasions, and nonetheless maintain 25 members of the MV Galaxy Leader hostage in Yemen, Austin stated in remarks Tuesday in a ministerial assembly on the brand new maritime mission. The U.S. remains to be actively in search of member international locations to hitch the mission, and improve the variety of navies current and taking part.

The United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain have joined the brand new maritime safety mission, Austin stated. Some of these international locations will conduct joint patrols whereas others present intelligence assist within the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

One notably absent participant is China, which has warships within the area, however these ships haven’t responded to earlier requires help by industrial vessels, regardless that a number of the ships attacked have had ties to Hong Kong, the army official stated.

Several different international locations have additionally agreed to be concerned within the operation however want to not be publicly named, a protection official stated on the situation of anonymity to debate extra particulars of the brand new mission that haven’t been publicly introduced.

The new maritime safety mission shall be coordinated by the already current Combined Task Force 153, which was arrange in April 2022 to enhance maritime safety within the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb and the Gulf of Aden. While the duty pressure has primarily supplied a headquarters construction so far, the objective of the brand new mission is to supply ships and different belongings to hold out the safety. There have been 39 member nations in CTF 153, however officers have been working to find out which ones would take part on this newest effort.

Separately, the United States has additionally known as on the United Nations Security Council to take motion in opposition to the assaults.

In a letter to council members obtained Monday by The Associated Press, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated Houthi assaults focusing on industrial vessels legally transiting the worldwide waterways proceed to threaten “navigational rights and freedoms, international maritime security, and international commerce.”

The 15 council members mentioned the Houthi menace behind closed doorways Monday however took no rapid motion.

Two U.S. warships — the USS Carney and the USS Mason, Navy destroyers — are at present transferring via the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to assist deter and reply to assaults from the Houthis.

The transfer to arrange the expanded operation got here after three industrial vessels have been struck by missiles fired by Iranian-back Houthis in Yemen on Dec. 3. Those assaults have been a part of an escalating marketing campaign of violence that additionally included armed and different drones launched within the path of U.S. warships.

To date, the U.S. has not struck again on the Iranian-back Houthis working in Yemen or focused any of the militants’ weapons or different websites. On Monday Austin didn’t reply a query as to why the Pentagon had not performed a counterstrike.