Overview
- Saudi Arabia, which announced the new 14‑country coalition on Thursday, said the group will carry out joint patrols, planning, exercises and intelligence sharing to protect ships in the Red Sea and Bab al‑Mandab.
- The move responds to renewed Huthi attacks on commercial and Saudi vessels and to a recent Huthi threat of a sea blockade that has raised immediate risks to transits and oil shipments.
- Multiple reports say the Huthis are considering charging passage fees for ships transiting Bab al‑Mandab and that Iranian advisers have traveled to Yemen to help set up such measures.
- Key regional states Oman and the United Arab Emirates are reported not to be participating, and the Saudi plan overlaps with existing EU (Aspides) and U.S. (Prosperity Guardian) protection missions.
- The Red Sea route carries a large share of global trade and oil, so sustained attacks or Huthi control efforts could raise fuel costs, disrupt supply chains and put pressure on the fragile 2022 Yemen truce and on civilians dependent on maritime commerce.