Important Information about the U.S. Coalition Force Deployed in the Red Sea

The United States has formed a coalition force consisting of 10 countries to patrol the Red Sea and protect cargo ships from attacks by Houthi Rebels in Yemen. The Houthis, who control a portion of territory in Yemen’s northwest, have been targeting ships that they believe are stopping at Israeli ports, causing insurance prices to soar and disrupting international trade. In response, the coalition, named Operation Prosperity Guardian, includes Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, the Seychelles, and the United Kingdom. The Houthis have been engaged in a war with the Saudi-backed government of Yemen since 2014 and aim to gain control of the entire country.

During a virtual meeting with ministers from the coalition countries, U.S. defense secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized the need for a firm international response to the Houthi attacks, referring to them as a serious international problem. However, Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a senior Houthi official, responded by asserting that the establishment of the coalition would not deter their military operations, as they were committed to their moral and humanitarian position.

In response to the violence, several major shipping companies, including MSC.Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk, have opted for alternative routes around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa to avoid the Red Sea.

Experts believe that the coalition will likely diminish the Houthi threat in the short term. Sidharth Kaushal, a research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute specializing in maritime warfare, states that the coalition countries possess the necessary defense capabilities to intercept Houthi missiles. However, the costs associated with running such a program indefinitely could complicate matters. The U.S. has already deployed two warships, the USS Carney and USS Mason, to the Red Sea, which successfully intercepted 14 drone strikes.

As more warships are sent to the area in the coming weeks, the severity of the threat is expected to decrease. Nevertheless, Kaushal cautions that this strategy may not be sustainable in the long run. Replenishing stocks, particularly air defense interceptors, requires docking in a friendly country, which can be time-consuming and costly.

If the situation persists, Kaushal suggests that the U.S. and coalition members may consider targeting Houthi launch infrastructure, similar to their response in 2016 when the Houthis launched a Chinese-made cruise missile at a U.S. ship. In that incident, the U.S. retaliated by launching Tomahawk cruise missiles against suspected radar sites used for missile launches.

Overall, the coalition aims to address the Houthi threat in the Red Sea, but the long-term sustainability of their approach remains uncertain.