Newly Formed Operation Prosperity Guardian To Protect Red Sea Shipping

[Valin]

The War Zone

A soon to be announced multi-national effort to protect Red Sea shipping comes after the U.S. and U.K. downed 15 Houthi drones Saturday.
Howard Altman

Dec 16, 2023

uring his visit to the Middle East next week, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will announce the formation of Operation Prosperity Guardian, a new international effort deal with Houthi threats, a U.S. military official told The War Zone. That information comes as U.S. and British warships shot down drones the Houthis launched in a wave from Yemen early Saturday morning local time, marking the latest escalation of attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.

The Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer USS Carney downed 14 drones today, a U.S. military official told The War Zone. The Type-45 destroyer HMS Diamond downed one drone targeting merchant shipping in the Red Sea with a Sea Viper missile, U.K. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said in a statement. It was the first time the Royal Navy shot down an aerial target in anger since the First Gulf War in 1991 when the Type 42 Destroyer HMS Gloucester destroyed an Iraqi Silkworm missile bound for a U.S. warship.

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Damien Symon

@detresfa_

 

Amidst the maritime chaos unfolding in the Red Sea, here is a simple graphic detailing recent incidents in Bab-el-Mandeb region, this visual encapsulates current challenges faced by one of the globe's busiest shipping routes

 

 

5:03 AM · Dec 16, 2023

 

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I'm thinking something like

 

 

Have BUFF Pay Them A Visit.

 

[Valin]

Dec 17, 2023 #houthi #supplychain #shipping

Red Sea U-Turns

In this episode, Sal Mercogliano - maritime historian at Campbell University (@campbelledu) and former merchant mariner - discusses the proposed convoying and increased naval presence in the Bab el-Mandeb under Operation Prosperity Guardian, along with the actions by the major container lines in 'encouraging' this initiation of convoy and picket operations in the area.

[Valin]

U.S. forms coalition to counter Houthi threat on international shipping; Houthis appear undeterred
Bill Roggio

December 19, 2023

One month after the Iranian-backed Houthis began attacking international shipping and U.S., British, and French warships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, an international coalition called Operation Prosperity Guardian has been formed to counter the Houthi threat. Houthi attacks have ground international shipping to a halt transiting the Red Sea through the Suez Canal as multiple shippers are now bypassing the dangerous waterway.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced the formation of Operation Prosperity Guardian on Monday and described it as “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.”

The Houthis appeared undeterred by the coalition’s formation. After claiming credit for two drone attacks on Monday before Austin’s announcement – one on a container ship, one on a Norwegian-owned vessel – the Houthis reportedly threatened another ship off the coast of Djibouti on Tuesday, near the entrance to the Red Sea. The Houthis, a Yemen-based but Iran-backed militia, have claimed these attacks come as a result of Israel’s response in Gaza.

“Our war is a moral war, and therefore, no matter how many alliances America mobilizes, our military operations will not stop,” Mohammed Al-Bukaiti, a member of the Houthis ruling council, told The Washington Post.

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The Biden administration has resisted targeting Houthi offensive military assets as it fears dragging the region into a wider war. Iran, in an attempt to drive the U.S. from the region and weaken Israel, has increased the pressure through its terror proxies and allies.

The Houthis, as part of Iran’s Axis of Resistance, as well as Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria, have been targeting U.S. forces to drive America from the region, as well as to support Palestinian terror groups in Gaza.

The Houthis possess ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones, and have used all three weapons systems against commercial vessels and U.S. warships since Hamas launched its deadly Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel. [For more background on the Houthis, see: Houthis strike commercial vessel, target French warship.]

[Valin]

Dec.20 2023

[Valin]

Dec 20, 2023

Maritime expert Sal Mercogliano joins Ward to discuss tensions in the Red Sea caused by an increase in Houthis firing missiles and drones at commercial shipping as it passes through the Bab-el-Madeb Strait. What is the resonant effect on the global economy if ships take alternate routes around South Africa or wherever, and what is the U.S. Navy and NATO partners prepared to do about it? And why did the EISENHOWER Strike Group just move out of the Persian Gulf closer to Yemen?

 

 

Dec 20, 2023 #redsea #houthi #pirates

 

In this episode, Sal Mercogliano - maritime historian at Campbell University (@campbelledu) and former merchant mariner - discusses how Operation Prosperity Guardian can unfold in the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb, and Gulf of Aden and the role that the shipping companies play in this event.

00:00 Op Prosperity Guardian

06:16 Background on Convoy Operations

15:32 Working With Shipping Companies...To Convoy or Not

[Valin]

Dec 22, 2023

Bill and Behnam check in on the U.S.-led coalition formed earlier this week in response to increased maritime aggression from the Iran-backed Houthis — spoiler: France seems to already be backing out. They examine countries noticeably absent from the bloc, like Egypt, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. They also ponder the strategic nature of Operation Prosperity Guardian — is it only defensive? How about going on the offensive to prevent Houthi attacks in the first place?

[Valin]

Oil tanker hit near Indian coast amid maritime hostilities against Israel by Houthis
The ship, identified as the Liberian-flagged Chem Pluto, sustains damage but none of its mostly-Indian crew are hurt; Jerusalem believes Iran behind drone strike on high seas
Agencies and ToI Staff

Dec. 23 2023

A picture of the oil tanker Chem Pluto as it appears on the website of the Port of Hamburg, Germany on December 23, 2023. (Courtesy of the Port of Hamburg)

A drone strike damaged a ship off the coast of India on Saturday but caused no casualties, two maritime agencies said, with one reporting the merchant vessel was linked to Israel.

Jerusalem believes Tehran was directly behind the attack, according to Hebrew media Saturday.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the strike, which comes amid a flurry of drone and missile attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis on a vital shipping lane in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

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The incident on the chemical product tanker occurred 120 miles (200 kilometers) southwest of the Indian port of Veraval, said Ambrey. It gave no further details about the vessel’s alleged Israeli links.

Ambrey said the drone attack struck the stern and caused a fire onboard that was later extinguished without any casualties among the crew. The firm said the vessel suffered some structural damage and some water was taken onboard.

The Indian news agency ANI identified the tanker as MV Chem Pluto carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia. Citing Indian defense sources, ANI said the tanker had around 20 Indian nationals on board. Multiple shipping sites describe Chem Pluto as being owned by a Japan-based firm.

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[Valin]

US says it shot down 2 missiles launched from Houthi-controlled areas
Reuters
December 30, 2023

Dec 30 (Reuters) - The United States shot down two missiles headed toward a container ship in the southern Red Sea and launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen on Saturday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said.

A Singapore-flagged, Denmark-owned/operated container ship reported that it was struck by a missile and the USS Gravely and USS Laboon responded to the ship, CENTCOM said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

While responding, the U.S. Navy destroyer Gravely shot down two anti-ship ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, CENTCOM added.

The vessel is reportedly seaworthy and there were no reported injuries, CENTCOM said.

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Time to stop shooting at arrows and star shooting at Archers.

[Valin]

Feb 22, 2024

Commercial shipping expert and host of the "What's Going on With Shipping?" YouTube channel, Sal Mercogliano, returns to discuss whether Operation Prosperity Guardian is actually deterring the threat posed by the Houthis and keeping the sea lanes open in and around the Red Sea.