Notable move from the US: Establishing a 'Maritime Task Force'
The US Department of Defense (Pentagon) has announced that it is in talks to establish an international "Maritime Task Force" in response to attacks by Houthi forces in Yemen on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
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Pentagon Press Secretary Brigadier General Patrick Ryder evaluated developments in the Middle East during a daily press briefing.
Ryder stated that the US is in discussions with its partners and allies regarding the establishment of a Maritime Task Force against Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, adding, "It is important to underscore that the Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in international waters are an international problem."
Stating that a framework for the task force is being established and that details will be announced later, Ryder noted that this would be a coalition involving 38 willing countries and that no specific level of participation would be required from any member country.
Ryder said, "We are certainly looking to take action here with our partners and allies in the region."
The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen announced the day before that they had targeted two Israeli ships, the "Unity Explorer" and "Number Nine," in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, reporting that one of the ships was struck by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and the other by a naval missile.
A statement released by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) on the X social media platform also indicated that 4 attacks were carried out against 3 commercial vessels in international waters in the southern Red Sea.
The statement noted that the US Navy destroyer "USS Carney" responded to distress calls from commercial vessels in the southern Red Sea and shot down 3 UAVs that were heading toward it while the destroyer was assisting the ships.
Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi had threatened in a televised speech on November 14 that they could target Israeli ships in the Red Sea with missiles and UAVs.