US Forms 10-Nation Multinational Fleet to Counter Yemen Rebels... Will It Prevent Logistics Crisis?

Yemeni Houthi Forces Continue Armed Provocations
Iran Opposes US Multinational Fleet Formation

The U.S. government announced that 10 major allied countries will form a multinational fleet to respond to the Yemeni Houthi rebels threatening the security of the Red Sea trade route. Attention is focused on whether this can prevent a logistics crisis in the Red Sea route, through which more than 15% of the world's total daily cargo volume, including oil tankers and merchant ships, moves.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

According to CNN on the 18th (local time), U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated in a press release, "The recent reckless expansion of Houthi attacks originating from Yemen threatens the free flow of commerce, endangers innocent sailors, and violates international law." He added, "Therefore, we announce the establishment of 'Operation Prosperity Guardian,' an important new multinational security plan focused on Red Sea security under the command of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and Task Force 153 (CTF-153)."

Under this operation, Austin said that 10 countries?the United States, the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Seychelles?will form a multinational fleet to respond to the Houthi rebels' armed provocations.

In addition to the 10 countries forming the multinational fleet, other nations are reportedly in discussions about participation. According to CNN, some members of CTF-153, a 39-nation naval coalition headquartered in Bahrain, are in contact with the U.S. government. This organization is currently responding to terrorism, piracy, and other threats in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Since the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Hamas on October 7, the Yemeni Houthi rebels, having declared support for Hamas, have targeted Israeli civilian vessels passing through the Red Sea, continuing drone and missile attacks. The Houthis have stated that they will attack not only Israeli-flagged ships but all vessels heading to Israel, launching indiscriminate attacks. More than 10 civilian ships have been attacked just this month.

As merchant ships heading to the Red Sea via the Suez Canal have been repeatedly attacked, global shipping companies and oil firms have begun to abandon the use of the Suez Canal and reroute around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa, raising concerns about a logistics crisis.

Following the U.S. government's announcement of the multinational fleet formation, Iran, which is backing the Houthi rebels, has opposed the U.S. move. On the 14th, Iranian Defense Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani warned in an interview with local ISNA news agency, "No one can move in areas where we hold superiority," adding, "They will face special problems."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.