The Pentagon announced on Thursday that more than 20 nations have joined the newly formed coalition led by the United States to protect Red Sea commerce from attacks by the Houthi movement in Yemen.
However, the updated Pentagon figure implies that at least eight of the participating nations have also chosen not to have their identities made public, indicating the political delicate nature of the operation at a time when tensions in the region are rising due to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
“We’ve had over 20 nations now sign on to participate. We’ll allow other countries, defer to them to talk about their participation,” Major General Patrick Ryder said, noting declarations by Greece and Australia.
Two days ago, the United States announced the launch of Operation Prosperity Guardian, claiming that over a dozen nations had committed to taking part in coordinated patrols in Red Sea waters close to Yemen.
According to Ryder, every nation will make whatever contribution they are able to, calling it a “coalition of the willing.” “In some cases that will include vessels. In other cases, it could include staff or other types of support,” he stated at a press conference.
In the meantime, the Houthis have intensified their attacks in the Red Sea, threatening to destroy any ship that sails towards Israel and cautioning shipping firms not to do business with Israeli ports.
The attacks have caused a sharp increase in container shipping costs as businesses look to ship their goods via alternate, frequently longer routes, disrupting a vital trade route that connects Europe and North America with Asia via the Suez Canal.
In retaliation, the navies of the United States, Britain, and France have shot down Houthi drones and missiles; however, some critics in Washington argue that these defensive measures are insufficient to deter the Houthis from carrying out more attacks.
