US To Introduce “Operation Prosperity Guardian” After Upsurge Of Attacks On Ships In Red Sea

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is expected to introduce “Operation Prosperity Guardian” during his next trip to the Middle East. The objective of this global effort is to tackle the challenges posed by the Houthis, including their recent upsurge in attacks against shipping in the Red Sea.

American and British warships intercepted a barrage of drones fired by the Houthis from Yemen; the USS Carney shot down 14 of the drones, while the HMS Diamond used a Sea Viper missile to bring down one of them.

Together, the two destroyers repelled the 45-minute drone strike in the vicinity of the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The Carney engaged the drones because they were seen as a threat, despite the British claiming that they were targeting a cargo ship. The Carney’s precise weapons were kept a secret to prevent the stocks from the Houthis.

CENTCOM verified that the drone interceptions were effective, and there were no reported injuries or ship damage. The drone occurrences came after Houthi attacks in the Red Sea that resulted in the burning of two cargo ships and the threat of a third, forcing major shipping companies like Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd to cease their operations in the region temporarily.

Joint Chiefs Chairman Air Force Gen. C.Q. Brown and Austin will unveil Operation Prosperity Guardian, similar to Task Force 153, which is currently in place. Building capability and enhancing marine security in the Gulf of Aden, Bab al-Mandeb, and Red Sea are the main objectives of this multinational initiative. Other than patrolling against Houthi threats, the diplomat did not clarify the number of countries involved or their specific missions.

Secretary of Defense for the United Kingdom Grant Shapps emphasised the need to preserve maritime security, given that the Red Sea and Bab-al-Mandeb Strait account for one-sixth of all commercial shipping worldwide. The Royal Navy works to defend the freedom to use waterways and against indiscriminate threats with the help of its allies, including the United States, France, and other nations.

Since 1991, a U.K. warship has not brought down an airborne threat until now. In the past, the USS Carney has attacked Houthi drones in response to distress calls from vessels under attack. Houthi drones posing a threat to a chemical tanker flying the Norwegian flag were also intercepted by the French Navy FREMM Frigate Languedoc. There are doubts regarding possible direct reactions against Houthi military objectives in light of the formation of a new task force scheduled for next week.

Reference: The War Zone

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Source: Maritime Shipping News