The Combined Task Force 153 or CTF 153: Red Sea Maritime Security is a United States Navy-led initiative established on 17 April 2022 to "focus on international maritime security and capacity building efforts in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb and Gulf of Aden."[1] Egypt is a partner with the US in this effort.[2]
The task force operates within Operation Prosperity Guardian.[3] Following increased attacks[4] on international shipping vessels by Houthi rebels in Yemen in beginning October 2023, the force has gained more news coverage. The Houthi movement is considered a proxy of Iran.[a] Analysts indicate that these attacks are part of escalating tension in the Middle East region since the beginning of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war.
- ^ "CTF 153: Red Sea Maritime Security". Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). 12 April 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Combined Task Force 153 Operations". Centcom. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Statement from Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on Ensuring Freedom of Navigation in the Red Sea". U.S. Department of Defense. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "U.S. considers striking Yemeni group". Semafor. 16 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).