More than twenty countries part of US-led Red Sea coalition

(Patria) - More than twenty countries have agreed to participate in a new coalition led by the United States that protects commercial traffic in the Red Sea from Houthi attacks, the Pentagon announced, Reuters reports.

However, the new number suggests that at least eight countries that signed up have refused to be publicly named, due to the political sensitivity of the operation as regional tensions rise over the war between Israel and Hamas.

"We have over twenty countries that have signed up to participate," said Major General Patrick Ryder, noting statements from Greece and Australia.

"We will allow other countries, we will leave it to them to talk about their participation," he added.

The United States launched Operation Prosperity Guardian three days ago, saying that more than ten countries had agreed to participate in efforts that would include joint patrols in the Red Sea waters near Yemen.

Each country will contribute as it can, Ryder said, calling it a "coalition of the willing".

"In some cases, this will include vessels. In other cases, it may include personnel or other types of support," he told a press briefing.

The crisis in the Red Sea stems from the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea have disrupted a key trade route connecting Europe and North America with Asia via the Suez Canal and have caused a sharp increase in container shipping costs as companies strive to deliver their goods via alternative, often longer, routes.

The US, British, and French navies have responded by shooting down drones and missiles, in actions that some critics in Washington say do not go far enough to deter the Houthis from continuing their attacks.