France joins 10-nation coalition against Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes

France has joined a US-led international force to protect ships transiting the Red Sea that have come under attack by drones and ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

This photo released by the Houthi Media Center shows Houthi forces boarding the cargo ship Galaxy Leader on Sunday, 19 November 2023. Yemen's Houthis seized the ship in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen after threatening to seize all vessels owned by Israeli companies. AP

Referring to the Red Sea shipping situation in a statement released from Bahrein early Tuesday, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin announced: “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.” 

The seriousness of the attacks on shipping lanes in the Red Sea – several of which have damaged vessels – has led multiple shipping companies to order their ships to hold in place and not enter the Bab el-Mandeb Strait until the security situation can be addressed. 

The US military's Central Command reported two more of the attacks on commercial vessels Monday.

A strike by attack drone and ballistic missile hit a tanker off Yemen, at roughly the same time a cargo ship reported an explosive detonating in the water near them.

BREAKING:

The US military has announced a 10-nation coalition against Yemeni Houthis in the Red Sea.

Only one Arab country, Bahrain, is part of the coalition.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE rejected the US proposal to join.pic.twitter.com/SNCPNTjllu

— Globe Eye News (@GlobeEyeNews) December 19, 2023

Joint patrols and intelligence

France is joining up with the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain as part of the US-led mission. 

Some of the countries will reportedly conduct joint patrols while others will provide intelligence support in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. 

Several other countries have also agreed to be involved in the operation but reportedly prefer not to be publicly named.

• French warship in Red Sea targeted by drones launched from Yemen

However, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have refused to join the coalition to avoid being seen as 'protecting Israel' amid fears Houthis may fire missiles directly on their territories. 

The mission will be coordinated by the existing Combined Task Force 153, which was set up in April 2022 to improve maritime security in the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb and the Gulf of Aden.

There have been 39 member nations in CTF 153, but officials are working to determine which of them would participate in this latest effort.

The Houthis, a Yemeni armed group, have attacked commercial ships with civilian crews in the Red Sea, saying they plan to target all ships heading to Israel “until the aggression against the Gaza Strip stops.”

Deliberately attacking civilians is a war crime. pic.twitter.com/eAgYbAXYv5

— Human Rights Watch (@hrw) December 13, 2023

US calls for UN action against Houthi attacks

Separately, the United States has also called on the United Nations Security Council to take action against the attacks. 

In a letter to council members US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Houthi attacks targeting commercial vessels legally transiting the international waterways continue to threaten “navigational rights and freedoms, international maritime security, and international commerce.”

The 15 council members discussed the Houthi threat behind closed doors Monday but took no immediate action.

Two US warships – the USS Carney and the USS Mason, Navy destroyers – have been moving through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait daily to help deter and respond to attacks from the Houthis.

The move to set up the expanded operation came after three commercial vessels were struck by missiles fired by Iranian-back Houthis in Yemen on 3 December.

Those attacks were part of an escalating campaign of violence that also included armed and other drones launched in the direction of US warships.

To date the US has not struck back at the Iranian-back Houthis operating in Yemen or targeted any of the militants’ weapons or other sites.

On Monday, Austin did not answer a question as to why the Pentagon had not conducted a counterstrike.