CHRISTIANSTED, U.S. Virgin Islands (AP) \u2014\u00a0Yemen\u2019s Houthi rebels\u00a0show no signs of ending their \u201creckless\u201d\u00a0attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, the\u00a0top commander\u00a0of\u00a0U.S. naval forces in the Middle East\u00a0said Saturday, even as\u00a0more nations\u00a0join the\u00a0international maritime mission\u00a0to protect vessels in the vital waterway and trade traffic begins to pick up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since Operation Prosperity Guardian was announced just over 10 days ago, 1,200 merchant ships have traveled through the Red Sea region, and none has been hit by drone or missile strikes, Vice Adm. Brad Cooper said in an Associated Press interview. He said additional countries are expected to sign on. Denmark was the latest, announcing Friday it plans to send a frigate to the mission that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced during a visit to Bahrain, where the Navy\u2019s 5th Fleet is based, saying that \u201cthis is an international challenge that demands collective action.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\u00a0Iran-backed Houthis\u00a0say their attacks are aimed at Israel-linked ships in an effort to stop the\u00a0Israeli offensive in Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The narrow Bab el-Mandeb Strait connects the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea and then the Suez Canal. The crucial trade route links markets in Asia and Europe. The seriousness of the attacks, several of which have\u00a0damaged vessels,\u00a0led multiple\u00a0shipping companies\u00a0to order their vessels to hold in place and not enter the strait until the security situation improved. Some major shippers were sending their ships around Africa and the Cape of Good Hope, adding time and costs to the journeys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Currently there are five warships from the United States, France, and the United Kingdom patrolling the waters of the southern Red Sea and the western Gulf of Aden, said Cooper, who heads the 5th Fleet. Since the operation started, the ships have shot down a total of 17 drones and four anti-ship ballistic missiles, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just two days ago, the USS Mason, a Navy destroyer, down a drone and anti-ship ballistic missile that were fired by the Houthis, according to U.S. Central Command. The U.S. said the 22nd attack on international shipping by the Houthis since Oct. 19 caused no damage to any of the 18 ships in the area or any reported injuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI expect in the coming weeks we\u2019re going to get additional countries,\u201d Cooper said, noting Denmark\u2019s recent announcement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The U.S. has said that more than 20 nations are participating, but a number of those nations have not acknowledged it publicly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cooper said the coalition is in direct communication with commercial ships to provide guidance on \u201cmaneuvering and the best practices to avoid being attacked,\u201d and working closely with the shipping industry to coordinate security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Houthis seized Yemen\u2019s capital, Sanaa, in 2014, launching a grinding war against a Saudi-led coalition that sought to restore the government. The militants have sporadically targeted ships in the region, but the attacks increased since the start of the\u00a0Israel-Hamas war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Houthi threatened to attack any vessel they believe is either going to or coming from Israel. That has escalated to apparently any vessel, with\u00a0container ships and oil tankers\u00a0flagged to countries such as Norway and Liberia being attacked or\u00a0drawing missile fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The shipping company Maersk had announced earlier that it had decided to re-route its ships that have been paused for days outside the strait and Red Sea, and send them around Africa instead.\u00a0Maersk announced Dec. 25\u00a0that it was going to resume sending ships through the strait, citing the operation. Cooper said another shipping company had also resumed using the route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCommerce is definitely flowing,\u201d Cooper said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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