The White House said Monday that the U.S. may establish a naval task force to escort commercial ships in the Red Sea, a day after three vessels were struck by missiles fired by Iranian-back Houthis in Yemen.
Quick Read
- Potential establishment of a naval task force in the Red Sea by the U.S.: Following missile attacks by Iranian-backed Houthis on three commercial ships, the White House indicated the possibility of setting up a naval task force to escort commercial ships in the Red Sea.
- Active discussions with allies for naval escorts: National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan mentioned ongoing talks with international allies about this initiative, though no final decision has been made. He described this as a natural response to such maritime threats.
- Recent Houthi missile attacks and U.S. military response: On Sunday, Houthi rebels in Yemen launched ballistic missiles at three commercial ships. In response, a U.S. warship engaged in self-defense, shooting down three drones during the assault. This incident marks an escalation in maritime attacks linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
- Strategic importance of the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab straits: The Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab straits are critical for global trade, particularly for oil and natural gas shipments from the Gulf to Europe, the U.S., and China. About 8.8 million barrels of oil per day pass through these routes, making them key chokepoints in world trade.
- Concern over Houthi attacks impacting global trade: The Houthi assaults threaten one of the world’s most vital shipping lanes, with potential repercussions for global trade. The attacks could disrupt the transportation of not only oil and gas but also agricultural products and other goods.
- Iran’s alleged role in supporting the Houthis: Sullivan highlighted Iran’s role in providing weapons to the Houthis, holding Iran as ultimately responsible for these attacks. He emphasized the broader implications of the Houthis’ actions, suggesting a level of recklessness in their operations.
- Unclear ties of targeted ships to Israel: Sullivan clarified that not all ships attacked by the Houthis were connected to Israel, indicating the indiscriminate nature of the attacks.
The Associated Press has the story:
US, allies in talks on Naval Task Force to protect shipping in Red Sea after Houthi attacks
Newslooks- WASHINGTON (AP)
The White House said Monday that the U.S. may establish a naval task force to escort commercial ships in the Red Sea, a day after three vessels were struck by missiles fired by Iranian-back Houthis in Yemen.
National security adviser Jake Sullivan said the U.S. has been in active conversations with allies about setting up the escorts though nothing is finalized, describing it as a “natural” response to that sort of incident.
On Sunday, ballistic missiles fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels struck three commercial ships, while a U.S. warship shot down three drones in self-defense during an hourslong assault, the U.S. military said. It marked an escalation in a series of maritime attacks in the Mideast linked to the Israel-Hamas war.
“We are in talks with other countries about a maritime task force of sorts involving the ships from partner nations alongside the United States in ensuring safe passage,” Sullivan told reporters. He noted similar task forces are used to protect commercial shipping elsewhere, including off the coast of Somalia.
The Houthi attacks imperil traffic on one of the world’s most vital shipping lanes and with it global trade overall. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says 8.8 million barrels of oil a day are shipped through the Red Sea and the narrow straits of the Bab al-Mandab within range of the Houthis, making it one of world trade’s most crucial chokepoints. The ships carry oil and natural gas from the Gulf to Europe, the United States and China.
The Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab are also part of a vital route for commercial shipping overall, carrying millions of tons of agricultural products and other goods to markets yearly.
Sullivan said that while the Houthis had “their finger on the trigger,” the group’s Iranian sponsors were ultimately responsible.
“The weapons here are being supplied by Iran,” Sullivan said. “Iran, we believe, is the ultimate party responsible for this.”
Sullivan said the U.S. does not believe that all three of the ships struck by the Houthis had ties to Israel, saying, “It goes to show you the level of recklessness that the Houthis are operating.”
