Beijing, 20 Dec (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced on 19 December that the United States is working with other countries to form a naval task force to safeguard freedom of navigation in the Red Sea waters. Yemen's Houthis responded later in the day that the move would not stop the group from continuing to attack ships linked to Israel.
"The U.S. coalition is formed to protect Israel, militarize the waters of the Red Sea, without any justification, and Yemen (the Houthis) will not stop supporting legitimate actions in the Gaza Strip," Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdul Salam said on the social media platform. ”
He said the Houthi military campaign was not "a show of force or a challenge to either side" and that "those who seek to expand the conflict must bear the consequences."
Houthi leaders have previously warned that if the United States intervenes directly in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Houthis will respond with missiles and drones, as well as other military actions.
Mohammed Bouheiti, a member of the Houthi core decision-making body, also said on the X platform on the 19th: "Even if the United States succeeds in mobilizing the whole world, we will not stop military ......operations."No matter how much sacrifice. ”
Bouheti reiterated that the Houthis will not stop their attacks unless Israel ceases fire and allows unhindered humanitarian supplies to flow into the Gaza Strip.
Since the outbreak of the new Palestinian-Israeli conflict on October 7, Yemen's Houthi rebels have launched frequent missile and drone attacks on Israel on the grounds of supporting Palestine, and have continuously attacked ships "associated with Israel" in the Red Sea. In order to avoid this dangerous water, a number of international shipping companies have announced the suspension of the Red Sea route.
When US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin visited Bahrain on the 19th, he announced the Red Sea escort operation, codenamed "Prosperity Guardian", and the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain will join this alliance. A U.S.** with knowledge of the details of the formation of the alliance told The Associated Press that several other countries have also agreed to join the alliance but are reluctant to make it public. (Wang Hongbin).