US And Other Nations Create Force To Protect Ships In Red Sea
Yemeni rebels have been stepping up strikes on ships in the Red Sea.
The US and others are creating a new force to protect ships transiting the Red Sea.
The United States and a host of other nations are creating a new force to protect ships transiting the Red Sea that have come under attack by Yemeni rebels, Bahrain's foreign minister said on Tuesday.
Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani said the force will be based in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah and will include ships, aircraft, and special forces from the US, UK, France, Italy, and Saudi Arabia.
The force will be responsible for patrolling the Red Sea and escorting ships through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a chokepoint between Yemen and Djibouti that has been the site of several attacks by Houthi rebels.
The Houthi rebels are a Shia militia that has been fighting the internationally recognized government of Yemen since 2014. The rebels are backed by Iran, and they have been accused of using child soldiers and committing human rights abuses.
The US and other nations have been providing support to the Yemeni government in its fight against the Houthis. In recent months, the US has increased its military presence in the region, and it has launched airstrikes against Houthi targets.
The creation of the new force is a sign of the growing international concern about the security of the Red Sea. The Red Sea is a vital shipping lane for oil and other goods, and it is also a strategic waterway for the US and its allies.
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