A 13-nation coalition led by the United States on Wednesday issued a warning to Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, vowing serious consequences if the group continues its attacks in the Red Sea.
The United States was joined in Wednesday's statement by the United Kingdom, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands and New Zealand. Countries said the destabilization of trade across the Red Sea was “unacceptable” and vowed consequences.
“Ongoing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea are illegal, unacceptable and highly destabilizing. There is no legal justification for intentionally targeting civilian or naval vessels. Unmanned aerial vehicles, small boats, missiles. The attack on ships, including commercial vessels, using the ”, the countries wrote.
“Let us now make our message clear: We demand an immediate end to these unlawful attacks and the release of the vessels and crews illegally detained. “We will continue to abide by the international rules-based order and will bear responsibility for the consequences if we continue to threaten free flow.” We are determined to hold malicious actors accountable for their actions,” the statement continued.
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The US Navy shot down an anti-ship ballistic missile fired by an incoming Iranian-backed Houthi missile in the Red Sea on Tuesday, signaling a serious escalation in the region.
Since October 19, there have been approximately 20 attacks by the Houthis on international shipping. The Houthis say they aim to attack ships with ties to Israel in order to thwart Israeli attacks in Gaza.
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The Houthis have fired missiles at numerous ships in recent weeks and attacked a Maersk container ship on Saturday.
Last month, the United States announced the creation of Operation Prosperity Guardian, an international effort to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea. About 1,200 commercial ships have sailed through the area since then, but until Saturday, none had come under attack by drones or missiles.
Since October 19, there have been approximately 20 attacks by the Houthis on international shipping. The Houthis say they aim to attack ships with ties to Israel in order to thwart Israeli attacks in Gaza. (Matti Milstein/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Five warships from the United States, France, and the United Kingdom are currently patrolling the southern Red Sea and western Gulf of Aden. To date, the warship has shot down a total of 17 unmanned aircraft and four anti-ship ballistic missiles.
FOX News' Bradford Betts contributed to this report.
