In total, more than 20 countries have agreed to participate in a new U.S.-led coalition protecting commercial shipping in the Red Sea from attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement as more countries join the effort, the Pentagon said Thursday.
However, new Pentagon developments suggest that at least eight countries that signed up to the agreement have refused to be publicly identified, a sign of political sensitivity over the Red Sea operation as regional tensions rise over the war between Israel and Hamas (an organization designated as terrorist by the United States).
“We now have more than 20 countries signed up to participate,” said Major General Patrick Ryder, noting the announcements from Greece and Australia. “We are allowing other countries to join them and discuss the possibility of their participation.”
The United States launched Operation Prosperity Sentinel two days ago, saying more than a dozen countries had agreed to participate in the effort, which would include joint patrols of the Red Sea waters near Yemen.
Each country will contribute, Ryder said, calling it a “coalition of the willing.”
“In some cases it will be ships. In other cases, this may include personnel or other types of support,” he told a briefing.
The Red Sea crisis stems from a war between Israel and the Islamist group Hamas, which rules Gaza.
The war began on October 7 when Hamas militants swept across the Gaza border into southern Israel, where they killed about 1,200 people, mostly Israeli and foreign civilians.
Israel’s retaliatory bombing and incursion into the Gaza Strip, which Israeli officials say aims to destroy Hamas, has killed about 20,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials in the densely populated coastal enclave.
Iranian proxies, including the Houthis and Lebanese Hezbollah, have fired missiles at Israel since the conflict began.
Meanwhile, the Houthis have stepped up their attacks in the Red Sea, threatening to attack all ships heading to Israel and warning shipping companies against dealing with Israeli port companies.
The attacks have disrupted a key trade route that links Europe and North America to Asia via the Suez Canal and have caused container shipping costs to soar as many companies now seek to ship their goods via alternative, often longer routes.
In response, the US, British and French navies shot down Houthi drones and missiles. It was a defensive move that some critics in Washington said did not go far enough to send a message to the Houthis that they should stop attacking the ships.
