U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has formally announced the launch of a new military operation, named Prosperity Guardian, geared toward responding to attacks on commercial shipping by Yemen’s Houthis in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
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| U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III |
“The recent escalation in reckless Houthi attacks originating from Yemen threatens the free flow of commerce, endangers innocent mariners, and violates international law. The Red Sea is a critical waterway that has been essential to freedom of navigation and a major commercial corridor that facilitates international trade. Countries that seek to uphold the foundational principle of freedom of navigation 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.
This is an international challenge that demands collective action. Therefore, today 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.
Operation Prosperity Guardian is bringing together multiple countries to include the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain, to jointly address security challenges in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, with the goal of ensuring freedom of navigation for all countries and bolstering regional security and prosperity”. -U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III
While the United States considers taking military action against the Houthis, Saudi Arabia has asked the U.S. to show restraint in responding to the attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea as the Saudis fear that a potential reprisal strike from Western forces could provoke more Houthi aggressions and break the tentative ceasefire between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition fighting on behalf of Yemen's exiled government that initially took effect in April of 2022.