While speaking to reporters with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated that a coalition is being built to counter threats from Yemen and ensure freedom of navigation through the Red Sea.
This comes as Secretary Austin is expected to announce the creation of an international maritime protection force during a defense meeting with regional partners tomorrow, reportedly dubbed “Operation Prosperity Guardian,” which would aim to protect commercial vessels in the region as Houthi attacks continue to mount.
Likewise, Politico has reported, citing unnamed officials, that the United States is weighing strike options against the Houthis in Yemen, which coincides with the deployment of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group to the Gulf of Aden.