Adjacent to Iran Houthis of Yemen they stated today that they will continue the attacks in the Red Sea and that they may proceed in marine business approximately every 12 hours.

The group has stepped up missile and drone attacks it launched last month against foreign ships in response to Israel’s offensive on the Gaza Strip.

“As far as maritime operations are concerned, they are in full swing, and maybe 12 hours don’t go by without an operation,” the group’s spokesman and chief negotiator Mohamed Abdelsalam told al Jazeera television.

“Threat” to world trade

The American Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin condemned “unprecedented” attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels against international shipping in the Red Sea, saying they constituted “threat” to world trade.

“Austin condemned the Houthi attacks on international shipping and global commerce, calling them unprecedented and unacceptable, underscoring that these attacks threaten free trade,” Pentagon press officer Lt. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement.

Security is deteriorating

Britain warned that the security situation in the Red Sea is deteriorating and that ballistic missile and drone attacks are an increased threat, while a Royal Navy destroyer has agreed to join the US-led operation to protect trade in the region.

USA announced earlier today that set up a special team with ships to protect shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, which are key trade routes, to protect shipping from the increasing number of attacks by Yemen’s Houthis.

Britain’s Ministry of Defense announced today that HMS Diamond, which shot down a suspected drone in the Red Sea on Saturday, will join the US-led international task force, while warning of increased threat levels.

“These illegal attacks are an unacceptable threat to the global economy, undermining regional security and threatening to drive up fuel prices,” British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said in a statement. “It is an international problem that requires an international solution.”

Britain said that in addition to HMS Diamond, the task force currently includes three US destroyers while a French warship is in the area.

Italian frigate

The Italian navy will send one of its frigates to help protect the Red Sea sea route against Houthi attacks, the Italian Defense Ministry said today.

“Italy will do its part, together with the international community, to counter the terrorist destabilizing activity of the Houthis,” Italian Defense Minister Guido Croceto said.

Participation of Spain

Spain stressed today that its participation in the military coalition in the Red Sea to prevent Houthi attacks on merchant ships will be done in the framework of NATO and the EU, not unilaterally.

“Spain bases decisions on the European Union and NATO and therefore will not participate unilaterally” in this operation, the defense ministry told AFP.