Red Sea: France joins ten-nation coalition against Houthi attacks

The US defense secretary announced on Monday the formation of a 10-nation coalition in the Red Sea to counter repeated Houthi attacks on ships that Yemeni rebels consider to be “linked to Israel.”

In addition to the United States, Lloyd Austin indicated in a press release that France, Great Britain, Bahrain, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and the Seychelles will take part in this coalition. “The recent escalation of reckless Houthi attacks from Yemen threatens the free flow of trade, puts the lives of innocent sailors at risk and violates international law,” he said. “That’s why today I’m announcing the creation of Operation Prosperity Sentinel,” the Pentagon chief added.

Israel is not part of this alliance

While visiting Israel, Lloyd Austin previously called on Iran to stop “supporting” Houthi operations against commercial vessels after talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel is not among the states mentioned by the Pentagon chief as part of the Red Sea coalition. In 2019, Washington created a naval coalition to protect shipping in Persian Gulf waters following a series of attacks attributed by the United States to Iran, which denied the cause.

Sea communication is interrupted

Earlier on Monday, the Houthis claimed responsibility for new attacks in the Red Sea on two ships “linked to Israel.” In a statement, the Houthis said they “conducted a military operation against two ships associated with the Zionist entity using seaplanes,” identifying the M/T Swan Atlantic and MSC Clara as the target ships.

The owner of the Norwegian vessel M/T Swan Atlantic admitted that the tanker was hit by an “unidentified object.” “Fortunately, the Indian crew were not injured and they said the ship suffered limited damage,” Norwegian shipowner Inventor Chemical Tankers said in a statement.

In the near future, shipping giants are refusing to pass through the strategically important Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which separates the Arabian Peninsula from Africa and through which 40% of world trade passes. Following the example of many shipowners, British hydrocarbons giant BP and Taiwanese shipping giant Evergreen announced they were suspending all transit in the Red Sea due to repeated attacks.

Late last week, Denmark’s Maersk, Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd, France’s CMA CGM and Italian-Swiss MSC announced recently that their ships would no longer use the Red Sea “until further notice,” at least. until Monday or until it is “safe” to pass. The head of French diplomacy, Catherine Colonna, assessed on Sunday that these attacks “cannot go unanswered.”

Ship “without connection with Israel” comes under attack

Controlling much of Yemen, the Houthis have warned they will attack ships sailing off the country’s coast if they have ties to Israel, in response to the war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Several missiles and drones were shot down by warships patrolling the area.

The Red Sea is a “highway of the sea” connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Indian Ocean and therefore Europe with Asia. About 20,000 ships pass through the Suez Canal, which is the entry and exit point for ships passing through the Red Sea, each year.

“The boat has no connection with Israel on the part of its owner (Norwegian) than technical management (Singaporean) or its loading,” emphasized the owner of the Norwegian vessel M/T Swan Atlantic, clarifying that the tanker was traveling from mainland France to Reunion. It is now under the protection of the US Navy.

If they no longer transit through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, the ships will have to go around Africa and pass through the Cape of Good Hope, which will significantly lengthen the journey. To connect Rotterdam to Singapore, the bypass lengthens the route by 40%, from about 8,400 nautical miles (15,550 km) to 11,720 miles (21,700 km), according to S&P Global. According to him, several ships have already passed this route in recent days, in particular from Maersk and MSC.