WASHINGTON, December 19. /TASS/. The US authorities and a number of other states intend to launch an operation in the Red Sea to ensure freedom of navigation and safety of ships in the face of attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels, according to a statement by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

"The recent escalation in reckless Houthi attacks originating from Yemen threatens the free flow of commerce, endangers innocent mariners, and violates international law," the statement said. It stressed that the free passage of ships through the Red Sea is vital to international trade.

"Countries that seek to uphold the foundational principle of freedom of navigation must come together to tackle the challenge posed by this non-state actor launching ballistic missiles and uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) at merchant vessels from many nations lawfully transiting international waters," Austin said. "This is an international challenge that demands collective action. Therefore, today I am announcing the establishment of Operation Prosperity Guardian, an important new multinational security initiative under the umbrella of the Combined Maritime Forces and the leadership of its Task Force 153, which focuses on security in the Red Sea," he pointed out.

According to the top US defense official, the operation will aim to "jointly address security challenges in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, with the goal of ensuring freedom of navigation for all countries and bolstering regional security and prosperity." Austin also said that will bring together Bahrain, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the Seychelles, Spain and the United States.

Following the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the Gaza Strip, Yemen's Houthi rebels said they would target Israeli territory and would not allow any ships linked to it to pass through the waters of the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait until the operation in the Palestinian enclave was over.