US announces naval coalition to defend Red Sea shipping from Yemen’s Houthi attacks: White House

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on Tuesday that attacks by Iran-backed Yemeni militants in the Red Sea must stop and that the U.S. and its partners will continue to protect ships from being targeted.

On Monday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said that several countries have agreed to jointly carry out patrols in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to try to safeguard commercial shipping against attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels. Kirby also said that he hopes other nations will join the Red Sea task force, adding that it was clear that the Houthis are targeting merchant shipping vessels.

Separately, British foreign minister David Cameron said that a multinational operation to safeguard commerce in the Red Sea is "a very clear message" to Iran-backed Yemeni militants and that it was vital to “make sure that shipping can keep moving.” Meanwhile, French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu said that major shipping companies “are worried” about the security threats in the region.

The Houthi militant group, which controls vast amounts of territory in Yemen after years of war, has fired drones and missiles at international vessels sailing through the Red Sea since last month — attacks it says respond to Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip.

For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca/news/10176725/houthi-red-sea-attacks/

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