The US launches Operation 'Guardian of Prosperity' to ensure security in the Red Sea

Spain will participate in the new international mission created after the Houthi attacks against merchant ships

Israel appreciates the mission and the Houthis urge not to participate in it under threat of reprisals

The Secretary of Defense of the United States, Lloyd Austin, announced this Monday the launch of Operation 'Guardian of Prosperity' to guarantee the security of maritime traffic in the Red Sea after recent attacks by the Yemeni Houthi militias.

"There is an international challenge that requires collective action. Therefore today I announce the creation of Operation Prosperity Guardian, a new multinational security initiative under the umbrella of the Combined Maritime Forces and the leadership of the Task Force 153 that focuses on security in the Red Sea," Austin proclaimed from Bahrain, where he is visiting.

The United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain participate in the operation "to address the challenges to security in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden with the aim of guaranteeing freedom of navigation for all countries and boost regional security and prosperity.

"The recent escalation in reckless Houthi attacks from Yemen threatens the free flow of trade, endangers the lives of innocent sailors and represents a breach of international law," he noted.

Austin recalled that the Red Sea "is a critically important sea lane that has been essential to freedom of navigation, a major trade corridor that facilitates international trade."

"Countries that want to maintain the founding principle of freedom of navigation must unite to face the challenge of this non-state actor that launches ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles against merchant ships of many countries that legitimately transit international waters," he argued. .

The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, has thanked all participating countries for their support in the "fight against the Iranian terrorist axis that threatens to close the sea crossing in the Bab el Mandeb Strait, according to a statement from his office.

For his part, the member of the Ansarullah politburo, the official name of the Houthi movement, Mohamed al Bukaiti, has "advised" the countries not to participate in this mission because it is "dishonorable" and "a shame" that will also be responded to.

"The United States should try to end the crimes of genocide in Gaza instead of establishing an international coalition to protect their perpetrators," Al Bukaiti posted on his account on the social network X, formerly Twitter.

The military spokesman for the Houthis, Yahya Sari, had confirmed this Monday two attacks against two ships that he considers linked to Israel: the oil tanker 'Swan Atlantic', flying the flag of the Cayman Islands - although it is owned by the Norwegian Inventor Chemical Tankers -- and the cargo ship 'MSC Clara', flying the Panamanian flag.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has corroborated these attacks, and has reported that the 'Swan Atlantic' was hit and that the 'MSC Clara' recorded an explosion in the water near its location.