Yemen rebels vow to keep up Red Sea attacks despite US warnings

December 20, 2023 — SpaceWar.com reports: “The United States condemned ‘unprecedented’ attacks by Yemeni rebels on Red Sea shipping as the Huthis pledged Tuesday to continue military operations despite the announcement of a new maritime protection force.

The flurry of drone and missile attacks by the rebels, the latest of which targeted two vessels on Monday, threaten to upend global trade flows, with major shipping firms halting traffic through the Bab al-Mandeb strait.

Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin warned Tuesday that the attacks ‘threaten’ the free flow of commerce, a day after he announced a multinational task force to quell Huthi missile and drone attacks.

‘Secretary Austin condemned Huthi attacks on international shipping and global commerce as unprecedented and unacceptable, noting the attacks threaten the free flow of commerce,’ Pentagon press secretary Major General Pat Ryder said in a statement…”  (An article on the Foreign Policy magazine website states: Moses may have parted the Red Sea, but now, thanks to a wave of Houthi missile attacks, shipping companies are departing it in droves.

So far, the Iran-backed Yemeni group has launched at least 100 missile and drone attacks against a dozen ships in the Red Sea, according to U.S. officials, and threatened to target all vessels heading toward Israel, whether or not they are Israeli-owned or operated. To avoid suffering the same fate, major energy and shipping companies, including BP and Maersk, have halted their operations there—rattling energy markets and driving up global oil prices and soon everything else. The Red Sea is what connects Asia to Europe, in terms of cargo ships, so disruptions are felt around the world.

The article goes on to explain why the Red Sea is so important, and that is because where it is located it is the entry way to the Suez Canal and one of the world’s key global trade corridors.  Disruptions there can send shockwaves around the world. 

Could the events taking place here lead to the downfall of Babylon the Great mentioned in Revelation 18?  And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:  The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,  And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.  And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.  The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,  And saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!  For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off… — Revelation 18:11-17.  See the next three reports.)

US-led coalition of 10 nations to counter Houthi attacks on vessels in Red Sea

December 19, 2023 — The Times of Israel reports: “The United States on Monday announced a 10-nation coalition to quell Houthi missile and drone attacks on ships transiting the Red Sea, with Britain, France, Bahrain and Italy among countries joining the ‘multinational security initiative.’

‘Countries that seek to uphold the foundational principle of freedom of navigation must come together to tackle the challenge posed by this non-state actor,’ US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement late-light Monday.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels have escalated attacks on tankers, cargo ships and other vessels in the Red Sea, imperiling a transit route that carries up to 12 percent of global trade

‘This is an international challenge that demands collective action,’ Austin said in statement released just after midnight in Bahrain. ‘Therefore today I am announcing the establishment of Operation Prosperity Guardian, an important new multinational security initiative.’

The United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain will join the US in the new mission, Austin announced. Some of the countries will conduct joint patrols while others provide intelligence support in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden…”

UK and Italy send warships to join Red Sea coalition

December 20, 2023 — SpaceWar.com reports: “A British Royal Navy destroyer has joined a new international maritime protection force to protect shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the government in London said Monday.

HMS Diamond is part of the Operation Prosperity Guardian task force seeking to deter attacks from Iran-backed Yemeni rebels on commercial vessels in the busy Bab al-Mandeb strait.

The United States announced the 10-nation coalition on Monday, promising a multinational response to the Huthi drone and missile strikes disrupting shipping.

‘These illegal attacks are an unacceptable threat to the global economy, undermining regional security and are threatening to drive up fuel prices,’ said UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps.

‘This is an international problem that requires an international solution. That is why HMS Diamond has joined Operation Prosperity Guardian.’

‘This new task force will protect shipping and vital trade routes in the Red Sea, where large amounts of goods and oil transit through to Europe and on to the UK.’

Shapps sent HMS Diamond to the region last month to join the frigate HMS Lancaster, three mine hunters and a Royal Fleet Auxiliary support ship as part of the UK’s longstanding maritime presence in the Gulf…”

Iran warns against proposed US-backed Red Sea force – ISNA

December 14, 2023 — The Jerusalem Post reports: “Iran’s Defense Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani warned that a proposed US-backed multinational task force to protect shipping in the Red Sea would face ‘extraordinary problems,’ official Iranian media reported on Thursday.

Ashtiani’s comments came after the United States said last week it was in talks with other countries to set up a task force following a spate of attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen on ships in the Red Sea.

‘If they make such an irrational move, they will be faced with extraordinary problems,’ Ashtiani told the official Iranian Student News Agency (ISNA) in comments it published on Thursday.

‘Nobody can make a move in a region where we have predominance,’ he said, referring to the Red Sea…”