U.S In Talks With Allied Countries To Form A Maritime Task Force For Protecting Ships In Red Sea

The White House announced Monday that the United States may deploy a naval task force to accompany commercial vessels in the Red Sea, a day after three ships got hit by missiles fired by Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.

Jake Sullivan, the National security advisor, said the US has actively discussed putting up the escorts with partners. At the same time, nothing has been confirmed, and it has been described as a “natural” response to such an attack.

Ballistic missiles fired by Yemeni Houthi rebels reportedly attacked three commercial vessels on Sunday. At the same time, a US destroyer shot three drones in self-defence in an hours-long assault, according to the US Navy. It was the latest in a string of marine strikes in the Middle East tied to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The Houthi strikes endanger trade on one of the world’s vital shipping channels and commerce worldwide in general.

According to the US Energy Information Administration, 8.8 million barrels of oil are carried via the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab straits within reach of the Houthis, making it one of the world’s most critical chokepoints. The ships transport natural gas and oil from the Gulf to the US, Europe, and China.

The Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab are part of an important commercial shipping route that transports millions of tons of agricultural goods and other items to markets annually.

According to Sullivan, although Houthis had their “finger on the trigger,” the group’s Iranian backers were ultimately to blame.

Reference: AP News

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