THE us Navy is establishing a new multinational task force targeting Houthi arms suppliers Yemen, the latest American military response to Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, Reuters reports.
The effort follows a series of Iran-backed Houthi missile and drone attacks this year on the two Gulf countries, which have since received additional American military assistance but see the United States as weakening its commitment to the region.
US Fifth Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Brad Cooper said the task force would operate in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab and Gulf of Aden and would also target human trafficking and the smuggling of drugs and other illicit goods.
'These are strategically important waters that warrant our attention,' Admiral Cooper said.
The task force would consist of between two to eight vessels and is part of the 34-nation Combined Maritime Forces, which Admiral Cooper also commands, that has three other task forces in nearby waters targeting smuggling and piracy.
Asked about missiles and drones used by the Houthi to attack US partners Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which back the Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi-led Yemeni forces, he said the new task force would impact the Houthis ability to obtain such weaponry.
'We'll be able to do it more vibrantly and more directly than we do today,' he said.
A US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the waters between Somalia, Djibouti and Yemen were well known 'smuggling paths' for weapons destined for the Houthis.
SeaNews Turkey
The effort follows a series of Iran-backed Houthi missile and drone attacks this year on the two Gulf countries, which have since received additional American military assistance but see the United States as weakening its commitment to the region.
US Fifth Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Brad Cooper said the task force would operate in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab and Gulf of Aden and would also target human trafficking and the smuggling of drugs and other illicit goods.
'These are strategically important waters that warrant our attention,' Admiral Cooper said.
The task force would consist of between two to eight vessels and is part of the 34-nation Combined Maritime Forces, which Admiral Cooper also commands, that has three other task forces in nearby waters targeting smuggling and piracy.
Asked about missiles and drones used by the Houthi to attack US partners Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which back the Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi-led Yemeni forces, he said the new task force would impact the Houthis ability to obtain such weaponry.
'We'll be able to do it more vibrantly and more directly than we do today,' he said.
A US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the waters between Somalia, Djibouti and Yemen were well known 'smuggling paths' for weapons destined for the Houthis.
SeaNews Turkey