A number of shipping companies avoided the Red Sea as the security situation deteriorated. [Picture: AFPPix]
The United States of America (USA) has announced the impending deployment of a multinational force to curb attacks on ships destined to Apartheid Israel via the Red Sea. The move followed a recent spate of attacks carried out by Yemen’s Houthi group in protest against the genocide in Gaza, Palestine.
On Monday, US secretary of defence Lloyd Austin confirmed that Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Seychelles and the United Kingdom (UK) would be among the countries participating in a 10-nation “multinational security initiative”.
SMread: Ramaphosa condemns Israel’s ‘genocidal onslaught’ after meeting with Muslim leaders
Attacks on shipments
The Iranian-backed Houthis stepped up drone and missile attacks on ships with ties to the occupying state in light of that country’s relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip. Israel’s military campaign in the besieged enclave has killed nearly 20 000 people since 7 October.
The latest attack was on the Norwegian-owned Swan Atlantic and the MSC Clara using naval drones on Monday. Swan Atlantic’s owner Norway’s Inventor Chemical Tankers, however, said the vessel had no ties to Israel but was managed by a Singaporean firm instead.
At least a dozen companies, including British Petroleum (BP), had suspended transit through the Red Sea as the security situation deteriorated. Meanwhile, Houthi spokesman Mohammed al-Bukhaiti told Al Jazeera the group was prepared to confront any US-led coalition deployed to the Red Sea.
Julie Allie spoke to Ahmed Tahseen Ardah, resident of Jenin in the Occupied West Bank about the current situation in Palestine. Listen to the full interview here. Ahmed Tahseen Ardah
