U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced today, Monday, the establishment of a multinational operation to protect trade in the Red Sea following a series of missile attacks and drone strikes carried out by the Houthi group allied with Iran in Yemen.

Austin, who is visiting Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy's headquarters in the Middle East, said the participating countries include the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain. He added that they will conduct joint patrols in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
 

Austin said in a statement early Tuesday, "This is an international challenge that requires collective action."

Adding, "Therefore, I announce today the establishment of Operation Prosperity Guardian, an important new multinational security initiative."

The increasing attacks carried out by the armed Houthi group on ships in the Red Sea are disrupting maritime trade and pushing U.S. efforts to build a coalition to address the threat, as shipping companies reroute around the Cape of Good Hope to avoid the Suez Canal.

A military spokesman for the group said it launched a drone attack on two cargo ships in the area today, Monday, namely the M/V Swan Atlantic, owned by Norway, and the MSC Clara.

These attacks were the latest in a series of missile and drone attacks on ships, which the group says are in response to the Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip.

Norway said it is prepared to send up to 10 naval officers to join the task force.

Italy said it is considering joining, while Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said Copenhagen "will participate" in helping provide security, without going into details.

Oystein Elgan, CEO of Inventor Chemical Tankers, owner of Swan Atlantic, told Reuters that the ship's water tank was damaged in the attack but all ship systems are operating normally. None of its crew were injured.