The Real Force Behind Houth Attacks on U.S. Warships Isn't Iran. It's China

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, now in the Middle East, has just announced the formation of Operation Prosperity Guardian, a multinational maritime force to protect shipping in the Red Sea, which connects the Suez Canal to the Gulf of Aden. Ten nations, significantly including Bahrain from the region, will contribute to the effort, which augments the Combined Maritime Forces and its Task Force 153. And yet, Operation Prosperity Guardian is shaping up to be a stop-gap solution. There are more fundamental ways to deal with attacks on vessels in that troubled area.

The Iran-backed Houthi militia has hit commercial shipping with missiles and drone-borne weapons from sites in Yemen, and ships have been captured in international waters. On November 19, the Houthis in the southern part of the Red Sea boarded the Bahamian-flagged Galaxy Leader, which is now in a port they control in Yemen. The Houthis have also threatened American warships. The USS Carney, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, shot down 14 drones in the Red Sea on Dec. 16 after downing a drone there on November 29. The USS Mason and USS Thomas Hudner, sister ships, took down Houthi drones as did a British warship, HMS Diamond.

In response to the attacks, shippers have taken matters into their own hands. The world's largest shipping line, Mediterranean Shipping Co., has announced the suspension of all sailings through the Red Sea.