US declares multinational operation in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea in response to shipping attacks by the Houthis

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced a new US-led operation to address “security challenges in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden” after Houthi attacks on commercial marine traffic.

Austin said, “I am announcing the establishment of Operation Prosperity Guardian, an important new multinational security initiative under the umbrella of the Combined Maritime Forces and the leadership of its Task Force 153, which prioritizes Red Sea security.”

Austin, who was meeting with senior Israeli officials to discuss the Israel-Hamas war, said countries “must come together to tackle the challenge posed by this non-state actor launching ballistic missiles and uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) at merchant vessels from many nations lawfully transiting international waters.” United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain are involved.

The USS Carney responded Monday to a distress call from a commercial vessel attacked by “multiple projectiles” in the southern Red Sea, a US military official said.

The Houthis claimed the ship attack. They claimed they attacked another Israeli-linked ship. Houthis said “no harm will be dealt” to ships traveling to ports worldwide, “except for Israeli ports.”