Pentagon announces 20 nations have joined coalition to protect Red Sea traffic from Houthi attacks

On Monday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced a 10-nation coalition to check Houthi attacks on vessels passing through the Red Sea.

According to Austin, the coalition will operate “with the goal of ensuring freedom of navigation for all countries and bolstering regional security and prosperity.”

On Thursday evening, the Pentagon announced that the coalition, Operation Prosperity Guardian, is now comprised of 20 nations, eight of which have chosen not to publicize their participation.

The Houthi rebels have already attacked several vessels transiting the waters near Yemen, including capturing one vessel.

Several shipping companies have announced they would bypass the Red Sea and the Suez Canal due to the Houthi terrorist threat, adding weeks to their shipping times.

The coalition is intended to remove the threat and allow secure shipping to resume in that corridor.