The Houthis threaten to target the ships of any country that moves against them.

The Houthis

threaten to target the ships of

any country that moves against them.

The member of the Supreme Political Council of Ansar Allah group

Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, confirmed on Tuesday that any country that

moves against Yemen will be targeted in the Red Sea.

"Any country that moves against us will have its ships targeted in the Red Sea."

The statement came against the backdrop of U.S.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's announcement on

Tuesday that a multinational force would be formed to

protect trade in the Red Sea following the Houthi attacks.

"The recent escalation of reckless Houthi attacks from Yemen threatens the free flow of trade, endangers innocent seafarers and violates international law

 the minister said in a statement published

by the US Defense on its official website.

"The Red Sea is a critical waterway necessary for freedom of navigation

and a major trade corridor facilitating international trade.

Countries seeking to uphold the fundamental principle of

freedom of navigation must come together to

meet the challenge posed by this non-governmental actor launching

ballistic missiles and marches on merchant ships from many States that

legally cross international waters."

This is an international challenge that requires collective action

so today I am announcing the establishment of Operation 'Prosperity Guard'

an important new multinational security initiative under the umbrella of the Joint Naval Forces and the leadership of its Task Force 153, which focuses on security in the Red Sea.

Operation "Prosperity Guard" brings together several countries

including the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy

the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain

as well as the United States

to jointly address security challenges in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden

with a view to ensuring freedom of navigation for all States

and promoting regional security and prosperity. "

The US Secretary of

Defense announces the formation of

a multinational force to protect trade in the Red Sea

On Tuesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the formation of

a multinational force to protect trade in the Red Sea following the Houthi attacks.

Austin said the Force's participating States would conduct

joint patrols in the south of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

"The recent escalation of reckless Houthi attacks from Yemen threatens the free flow of trade, endangers innocent seafarers and violates international law,"

 the minister said in a statement published

by the US Defense on its official website.

"The Red Sea is a critical waterway that was necessary for freedom of

navigation and a major trade corridor that facilitates international trade.

Countries seeking to uphold the fundamental principle of freedom of

navigation must come together to meet the challenge posed

by this non-governmental actor launching ballistic missiles and cars on

merchant ships from many States that legally cross international waters."

"This is an international challenge that requires collective action

so today I am announcing the establishment of Operation

'Prosperity Guard'

an important new multinational security initiative under

the umbrella of the Joint Naval Forces and the leadership of

its Task Force 153, which focuses on security in the Red Sea.

Operation "Prosperity Guard" 

brings together several countries, including the United Kingdom

Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles

and Spain, as well as the United States, to jointly address security challenges in

the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, with a view to ensuring freedom of navigation for all States and promoting regional security and prosperity. "

Mohammed al-Bakhiti, a member of

the political bureau of Yemen's Houthi group, had said in press statements that

they could confront any coalition formed by the United States in the Red Sea.

"The Americans offered not to hinder efforts to reach peace in Yemen in

exchange for the cessation of our military operations in the Red Sea

and we categorically rejected this and rejected any threats."

"There are indirect contacts with countries including America to

stop our operations in the Red Sea."

In a previous blog post, Mohammed al-Bakhiti stated that "

America should seek to stop the genocide in Gaza rather than establish

an international coalition to protect the perpetrators".

The statement affirmed the continued prohibition of

all vessels bound for Israeli ports from any nationality from navigating in

Arab and red Bahrain until "the introduction of food and medicine 

needed by our resilient brothers in the Gaza Strip."