France Escorts Its Interests in the Red Sea

A senior commander of the French Navy stated on Thursday, January 11, that the priority of the French Navy is to escort vessels associated with France in the Red Sea as part of its military fleet's participation in operations to protect commercial ships. According to Reuters, Admiral Emmanuel Slaras, the joint commander of French forces in the region, added that the current operations and missions do not include direct attacks on Houthi militants. This group, supported by the Islamic Republic, has attacked commercial shipping lines in the Red Sea at least 26 times since late November, following the outbreak of war in Gaza. The Houthis have claimed these attacks are in support of Hamas. In this context, many shipping lines have diverted their commercial fleets to other routes. In response to these attacks, the United States formed a maritime coalition named 'Guardian of Prosperity' on December 19 to protect ships in the Red Sea waters near Yemen. It is reported that 20 countries have joined this maritime coalition. Admiral Slaras described the formation of the U.S.-led 'Guardian of Prosperity' coalition as positive, stating that 80% of container ship traffic still passes through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait between Yemen and Djibouti. This French military official also noted that there is always a need for more military capability in the region but added that France currently does not intend to deploy additional forces. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned on Wednesday, January 10, that the ongoing attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthis on commercial shipping lines in the Red Sea would have 'consequences.' Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday called on the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen to immediately cease attacks on ships in the Red Sea and defended the formation of the 'Guardian of Prosperity' coalition. Fifteen members of the Security Council approved the U.S. proposal with 11 votes in favor, four abstentions, and no votes against. Simultaneously, the British newspaper 'Daily Telegraph' reported on Wednesday, citing its intelligence sources within Iran, that the Houthi group has been trained at the 'Khamenei Marine Science and Technology University' in Zibakenar, Rasht, and that Ali Khamenei personally oversees their activities. The newspaper emphasized that the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic has played a 'central and personal' role in the Houthis' actions in the Red Sea and has ordered that more weapons and equipment be provided to this militia group. According to the Daily Telegraph, about 200 members of this Yemeni group, which is currently attacking vessels passing through the Red Sea, have received necessary training in Iran through the Revolutionary Guard at the Khamenei Marine Science and Technology University in Zibakenar. Armed attackers targeted a ship 50 miles east of the coast of Oman. The Houthis described the UN Security Council resolution as a 'political game.' The firm support of the UN Security Council members for the U.S. proposal; Houthi attacks on free shipping must stop. The British Defense Minister warned the Houthis: end the attacks on ships. The destruction of 21 Houthi drones and missiles in the Red Sea; the response of the U.S. and Britain to the 'complex' attack on international shipping. The end of Blinken's trip to Israel; the U.S. will respond to Houthi activities in the Red Sea.