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Wednesday 20 december 2023

Pentagon announces new international mission to counter attacks

on commercial vessels in Red Sea

Continued from Front The new maritime security
mission will be coordinated
“Therefore today I am an- by the already existing Com-
nouncing the establishment of bined Task Force 153, which
Operation Prosperity Guard- was set up in April 2022 to
ian, an important new multi- improve maritime security in
national security initiative.” the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb
There are about 400 com- and the Gulf of Aden.
mercial vessels transiting the While the task force has prima-
southern Red Sea, an area rily provided a headquarters
roughly the size of Washing- structure to date, the goal of
ton D.C. to Boston, at any the new mission is to provide
given time, a senior military ships and other assets to carry
official told reporters who out the protection. There have
are traveling with Austin in been 39 member nations in
the region. CTF 153, but officials were
Under the new mission, the working to determine which
military ships will not neces- of them would participate in
sarily escort a specific ves- this latest effort.
sel, but will be positioned to Separately, the United States
provide umbrella protection has also called on the United
to as many as possible at a Nations Security Council to
given time, the official said on U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin makes a joint statement with Israel Minister of Defense Yoav take action against the at-
the condition of anonymity Gallant, after their meeting about Israel's military operation in Gaza, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, tacks.
Dec. 18, 2023.
to provide additional details Associated Press In a letter to council mem-
not made public on how the bers obtained Monday by
new operation will work. adding, “Whoever seeks to militants have attacked or intelligence support in the The Associated Press, U.S.
Mohammed Abdel-Salam, expand the conflict must seized commercial ships 12 southern Red Sea and the Ambassador Linda Thomas-
the Houthis’ chief negotiator bear the consequences of times and still hold 25 mem- Gulf of Aden. Greenfield said Houthi attacks
and spokesman, challenged his actions.” bers of the MV Galaxy Leader One notably absent partici- targeting commercial vessels
the U.S.-created coalition on On Tuesday the shipping com- hostage in Yemen, Austin said pant is China, which has war- legally transiting the interna-
Tuesday, saying the Iranian- pany Maersk announced that in remarks Tuesday in a min- ships in the region, but those tional waterways continue to
backed rebels would continue for now, it had decided to re- isterial meeting on the new ships have not responded to threaten “navigational rights
targeting Israel-linked vessels route its ships that have been maritime mission. The U.S. is previous calls for assistance and freedoms, international
off Yemen. paused for days outside the still actively seeking member by commercial vessels, even maritime security, and inter-
“The American-formed coali- strait and Red Sea, and send countries to join the mission, though some of the ships at- national commerce.”
tion is to protect Israel and them around Africa through and increase the number of tacked have had ties to Hong The 15 council members
militarize the sea without any the Cape of Good Hope in- navies present and partici- Kong, the military official said. discussed the Houthi threat
justification, and will not stop stead — a much longer and pating. Several other countries have behind closed doors Monday
Yemen from continuing its le- less efficient passage. Maersk The United Kingdom, Bahrain, also agreed to be involved but took no immediate action.
gitimate operations in support said it welcomed the interna- Canada, France, Italy, Neth- in the operation but prefer Two U.S. warships — the USS
of Gaza,” he wrote on social tional security effort, but at erlands, Norway, Seychelles not to be publicly named, a Carney and the USS Mason,
media platform X, formerly the present time, the much and Spain have joined the defense official said on the Navy destroyers — are cur-
known as Twitter. longer route would provide new maritime security mission, condition of anonymity to rently moving through the Bab
He said the Houthis’ attacks “more predictable outcomes” Austin said. Some of those discuss additional details of el-Mandeb Strait to help deter
“are not a show of force nor for its customers. countries will conduct joint the new mission that have not and respond to attacks from
a challenge to anyone,” In the last four weeks, Houthi patrols while others provide been publicly announced. the Houthis.q