Operation Prosperity Guardian is a military operation by a multinational coalition formed in December 2023 to respond to Houthi-led attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.

Date: 18 December 2023 – present

Location: Red Sea, Gulf of Aden

Status: Ongoing


United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced the formation of an international maritime security force, which aims to counter threats by Houthi forces against international maritime commerce following weeks of attacks against commercial vessels.

The coalition currently has more than 20 members. Egypt and Saudi Arabia, both economically reliant on unhindered commercial shipping in the area, are absent from the listed participants. Aside from the eleven listed coalition members, there are ten anonymous governments concealing their involvement.

Background

The operation aims to ensure the safety of maritime traffic in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb and Gulf of Aden. Following the start of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, multiple civilian container and freight ships were attacked and hijacked in the Gulf of Aden by Houthi forces. The attacks prompted most major shipping companies to divert their routes away from the Suez Canal. As of 22 December 2023, at least twelve civilian vessels have been attacked.

The waterways to and from the Red Sea are shipping chokepoints for the global economy which connect the Mediterranean Sea with the Indian Ocean and the Suez Canal with the Horn of Africa. This had led to the 2023 situation being dubbed "a new Suez Crisis" by The Economist newspaper.

Forces

Combined Task Force 153, under control of the U.S. Combined Maritime Forces, will control the vessels of the operation, which currently includes the United Kingdom's HMS Diamond, HMS Lancaster, HMS Chiddingfold, HMS Middleton, HMS Bangor, RFA Cardigan Bay, and the Italian Frigate Virginio Fasan, three U.S. destroyers, and a French warship. The US contingent may include the USS Carney and USS Mason.

The Netherlands plans to send two staff officers and is debating whether to deploy ships. Norway plans on dispatching up to ten staff officers, but as of now is not sending any vessels. Australia announced that it will send 11 military personnel with no warships, the US also requested Australia to deploy a warship to the region, but the latter declined.

Canada is deploying three staff officers by way of Operation Artemis. The Canadian Armed Forces will deploy an unspecified number of land, air and sea support vehicles. Greece will send a Hellenic Navy frigate. Seychelles is not deploying any vessels or personnel, and limits its participation to "providing and receiving information". Denmark through the Danish Defense Ministry has also announced its readiness to join this honorable alliance.