Two warships, including an India-flagged, Gabon-owned tanker, came under Houthi fire in the Red Sea, according to official statements from the US Central Command.
This week, the US launched Operation Prosperity Guardian, a maritime coalition aimed at beefing up security in the southern Red Sea. More than 20 nations have signed on to the initiative so far, the Pentagon said Thursday.
Emphasising India's support for free movement of commercial shipping, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi while referring to the ongoing attacks in the Red Sea, said that this is something India is interested in and will continue to monitor.
Israel's Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant visited an Israeli Navy "Sa'ar 6" class Missile Ship sailing in the Gulf of Eilat on Wednesday. He also met with the Navy commanders and soldiers operating in the vicinity of the city of Eilat.
"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 focuses on security in the Red Sea," Austin said in a statement.
Operation Prosperity Guardian will involve the navies of: Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, Spain, UK and US. The task force falls under the Combined Maritime Forces, a multinational alliance tasked with defending the world's shipping lanes.
Yemen's Houthi rebels have claimed to have launched a drone attack on two cargo vessels in the Red Sea, disrupting maritime trade and causing freight companies to avoid the area.
Moreover, at approximately 0700, Dec. 15 (Sanaa time), Houthi forces contacted the Motor Vessel MSC ALANYA, a Liberian-flagged vessel that was travelling north in the southern part of the Red Sea and threatened to attack it. The Houthis directed the vessel to turn around and proceed south
Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels announced on Saturday night that they will target any Israel-bound ship in the Red Sea regardless of the vessel's ownership.