Joint patrols to guard ships in response to attacks by Houthis backing Palestinians
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An Israeli military ship sailing in the Mediterranean Sea on Dec 17.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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GAZA/MANAMA/JERUSALEM – Several countries have agreed to jointly carry out patrols in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to try to safeguard commercial shipping against attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels
A statement on Dec 19 by US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, on a visit to Bahrain, identified several countries taking part in an international force.
It was unclear whether those countries are willing to do what US warships have done in recent days – shoot down Houthi missiles and drones and rush to the aid of commercial ships under attack.
“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,” the statement said.
It identified participating nations – led by the United States – including, among others, Britain, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain.
The Houthis have waded into the Israel-Hamas conflict by attacking vessels in vital shipping lanes and even firing drones and missiles at Israel, more than 1,600km from their seat of power in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa.
The Houthi group said on Dec 18 that it launched a drone attack on two cargo vessels in one of its latest attacks in the region.
The Houthis have threatened to target all ships heading to Israel, regardless of their nationality, and warned international shipping companies against dealing with Israeli ports.
On Dec 18, Houthi politburo member Mohammed al-Bukhaiti told the Al Jazeera news network that his group would be able to confront any coalition formed by the United States that could deploy to the Red Sea.
Gaza battles rages on
Early on Dec 19, residents in areas of the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis reported fierce gun battles between Palestinian fighters and Israeli forces. Israeli tanks and planes bombed areas near the city centre, residents said.
The Gaza Health Ministry said on Dec 18 that 19,453 Palestinians had been killed and 52,286 wounded in the Israeli assault on the Hamas-ruled enclave in more than two months of warfare.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to achieve total victory over Hamas, whose fighters killed some 1,200 people and took about 240 hostages in a surprise Oct 7 raid into Israel,
Israel’s intensifying retaliation against Hamas has increased concern among governments and international organisations over the Gaza civilian death toll, hunger and homelessness.
Father of four Raed, 45, who has moved his family twice, said Gazans were exhausted trying to stay alive.
“Money has lost its value, most of the items are not available. We rose from our beds after surviving a night of bombardment to tour the streets searching for food, we got tired,” he said in the Rafah area. “We want peace, truce, ceasefire, whatever they call it, but please stop the war.”
While in Israel on Dec 18, Mr Austin said Washington’s support for Israel was “unshakable”, but he urged its ally to do more to protect civilians.
Hamas releases hostage video
Three elderly Israeli hostages, identified by Israel as 79-year-old Chaim Peri, 80-year-old Yoram Metzger and 84-year-old Amiram Cooper, were seen in a video released by Hamas
The three men, all with beards, are seen sitting together in the video, which Hamas posted to Telegram.
Sitting in the middle, Mr Peri speaks to the camera, saying he and other elderly hostages who have health issues are “suffering greatly in very harsh conditions”.
He pleaded for Israel to secure their unconditional release.
Israel and Hamas agreed to a week-long ceasefire at the end of November,
The heads of the US Central Intelligence Agency and Israel’s Mossad, as well as Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, were expected to meet and discuss the possible release of more hostages, US officials said on Dec 18. REUTERS
