U.S. launches Red Sea force as ships reroute to avoid attacks
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[December 19, 2023]
By Phil Stewart
MANAMA (Reuters) -Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday said the
United States was leading a multinational operation to safeguard
commerce in the Red Sea as attacks by Iran-backed Yemeni Houthi
militants forced more major shipping companies to reroute.
The Houthis have stepped up the missile and drone attacks they began
last month against international vessels sailing through the Red Sea, in
response to Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip.
The attacks this week forced oil major BP and a slew of freight firms
including Maersk to divert shipments normally made through the Suez
Canal around the Cape of Good Hope, adding days to journey times and
incurring higher costs.
Israel's 10-week-old war with Hamas, the Palestinian group that controls
Gaza, has drawn in the United States and its allies on the side of
Israel, and Iran and its Arab proxy forces on the side of Hamas, risking
a wider regional conflict.
Austin, who is on a trip to Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy's
headquarters in the Middle East, said the United Kingdom, Bahrain,
Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain were
among nations involved in the Red Sea security operation.
The group will conduct joint patrols in the southern Red Sea and the
Gulf of Aden.
"This is an international challenge that demands collective action,"
Austin said in a statement, announcing the initiative as "Operation
Prosperity Guardian".
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In a virtual meeting with ministers from more than 40 nations, Austin
called on other countries to contribute as he condemned "reckless Houthi
actions."
Austin's announcement however leaves many questions unanswered,
including how many other countries are willing to do what mostly U.S.
warships have done in recent days -- shoot down Houthi missiles and
drones, and rush to the aid of commercial ships under attack.
France later said it would join the effort to stop Houthi attacks.
Shipping companies continued to reroute on Tuesday despite Austin's
announcement. Denmark's Maersk, which had paused Red Sea shipping, said
it would sail its ships around Africa until further notice.
"We have faith that a solution enabling a return to using the Suez Canal
and transiting through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden will be introduced
in the near future, but at this time it remains difficult to determine
exactly when this will be," it said in a statement.
Many other ships were still plying the waterway. Several ships underway
have armed guards on board, LSEG data showed.
Industry sources said the impact on global trade would depend on how
long the crisis persists, but insurance premiums and longer routes would
be immediate burdens.
ATTACKS PERSIST, SHIPS REROUTE
The Houthis, who control large areas of impoverished Yemen, have
threatened to target all ships heading to Israel, regardless of their
nationality, and warned international shipping companies against dealing
with Israeli ports. They have also fired missiles at Israel more than
1,000 miles away.
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U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Israeli Defense Minister
Yoav Gallant meet, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the
Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel December 18,
2023. REUTERS/Phil Stewart/ FILE PHOTO
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The group said on Tuesday the U.S.-led security initiative would not
deter them.
British maritime security firm Ambrey said on Tuesday it received
information of a potential boarding attempt 17 miles west of Yemen's
Aden port city, adding that the attack was unsuccessful and all crew
were safe.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said in an advisory it
had received a report of an incident 80 nautical miles northeast of
Djibouti, at the mouth of the Red Sea.
The U.S. Navy already had a Red Sea task force that had bolstered
its presence in the critical waterway, and it is unclear how many
countries will send additional ships or patrol aircraft following
the creation of the new maritime operation.
The leadership of the new U.S.-led operation will also fall under
existing command structures, officials say.
Many key Arab allies of the United States have so far declined to
join.
The Houthis on Monday claimed a drone attack on two cargo vessels in
the region. The Houthis have said that they were prepared to
confront any coalition formed by the United States.
About 12% of world shipping traffic normally transits via the Suez
Canal, the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia, passing
then as well into the Red Sea waters off Yemen.
Oil major BP's decision to temporarily pause all transit through the
Red Sea, and oil tanker group Frontline saying its vessels would
avoid passage through the waterway, showed the crisis was broadening
to include energy shipments. Crude oil prices rose on those concerns
on Monday.
Western countries back Israel's fight against Hamas after the group
killed 1,200 Israelis in an Oct. 7 attack. Israel's military
response, a heavy bombardment and invasion of Gaza, has killed more
than 19,000 Palestinians.
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During a visit to Israel on Monday, Austin squarely blamed Iran for
the Houthi attacks.
"Iran's support for Houthi attacks on commercial vessels must stop,"
he said.
In addition to the Houthi attacks, Iran's ally Hezbollah in Lebanon
has fired rockets across the frontier with Israel. Israel has
launched air strikes in response in the worst violence at the
frontier since a 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war.
At a news conference in Tel Aviv, Austin said: "As we are driving to
stabilize the region, Iran is raising tensions by continuing to
support terrorist groups and militias."
(Reporting by Phil Stewart, Mohammed Ghobari, Yuka Obayashi, Lisa
Barrington, Reuters bureaux, Dubai newsroomWriting by John Davison,
Alexander Cornwell, Elisa Martinuzzi; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
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