The U.S. and Canada will join a multinational operation to counter attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, as reported by the Canadian outlet CBC.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced on December 19 that the United States, Canada, and several other countries are forming new forces to protect ships transiting the Red Sea and facing drone and ballistic missile attacks from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen.
The severity of the attacks, some of which damaged vessels, led several shipping companies to instruct their ships to stay in place and not enter the Bab el-Mandeb strait until the security situation is resolved.
"This is an international challenge that requires collective action", - Austin said in a statement released shortly after midnight in Bahrain.
"Therefore, today I am announcing the start of Operation 'Guardian of prosperity', a significant new multinational security initiative. The UK, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the Seychelles, and Spain will join the U.S. in the new mission. Some countries will conduct joint patrols, while others will provide reconnaissance support in the southern part of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden", - Austin said.