Operation Prosperity Guardian

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Gulf of Aden

Operation Prosperity Guardian was conducted around the Bab-el-Mandeb strait which separates the Gulf of Aden from the Red Sea. The strait is a key link between the Indian Ocean and Suez Canal, giving access from the Mediterranean Sea, Southern Europe. North Africa, and the Middle East to Asia and the Far East.

Iran's Islamist Proxies in the Middle East

Description

Folowing multiple terror attacks in the Red Sea by Islamic Republic of Iran's[1][2][3][4][5] proxy Houthis jihadists[6] on commercial ships, on December 18, 2023 the White House said 'Operation Prosperity Guardian' will counter Houthi threats against ships in Red Sea.[7] John Kirby saying: 'These attacks have to stop. They need to stop. They’re unacceptable.'

To (that) date, Houthi rebels in Yemen have launched at least 100 attacks with one-way drones and ballistic missiles, targeting 10 merchant vessels that represent more than 35 different nations, according to a readout of a virtual meeting between security group participants.'

“Operation Prosperity Guardian is bringing together multiple countries to include the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain to jointly address security challenges in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, with the goal of ensuring freedom of navigation for all countries and bolstering regional security and prosperity,” said Lloyd Austin on that day.[8]

A day later, a top Houthi official said: "we have capabilities to sink your fleet, your submarines, your warships," according to the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency. "The Red Sea will be your graveyard."[2]

It has been reported that "Iranian spy ship helps Houthis direct attacks on Red Sea vessels."[9]

On February 27, 2024 the Russian website Dzen reported the Houthis attacked underwater cables connecting Europe with Asia. Four underwater cables were damaged, leading to interruptions of internet communications. The main damage was felt in the countries of the Persian Gulf and India.[10]

The Houthis claimed to have test fired their first hypersonic missile on March 8, 2024.[11] On May 31, 2024 the Houthis claimed a direct hit on the USS Eisenhower in the Red Sea.[12] The missile attack was said to have done significant damage to the Supercarrier's flight deck.[13] The $13 billion Supercarrier immediately withdrew from the combat area of operations.[14]

On September 15, 2024 the Houthis launched a hypersonic missile that traversed 2,040km in eleven and a half minutes and struck Israel.[15]

In October 2024 German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius ordered the German Navy’s Baden-Wurttemberg frigate and Frankfurt-am-Main auxiliary replenishment ship to take the long way home back to Germany after the end of their deployment in the Indo-Pacific.[16]

Opportunistic Iranian attacks

Part of Islamic fascist[17][18][19][20] republic of Iran domination.[21][5][4]

The Houthi opportunistic[22][23] attacks began after the other Iran linked[24][25] Arab "Palestinian" Islamist Gaza dictatorship Hamas regime's onslaught on Oct 7, triggering the Swords of Iron and followed[1] by another Iran proxy Hezbollah[26] attacks on Israeli civilians, as well as attacks on US by Iran linked militias in Iraq and from Iranian bases in Syria.

On April 13, 2024 Iranian commandos seized an Israeli-linked cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz.[27]

Economic impact

The goal is to free the movement of international shipping in the Red Sea, as the closure of the Red Sea and Suez Canal will have a long term global, inflationary effect due to disruption of supply chains. Sources say a ship can make only 3 or 4 Asia to Europe roundtrips a year by detouring around the Cape of Good Hope rather than 4 or 5 roundtrips through the Suez Canal, "a massive structural drop in supply capacity."[28] Additionally, EU sanctions on Russian oil have made the European Union more dependent on Persian Gulf oil, which also is affected by tankers having to take the long route around the Cape of Good Hope, adding about 40% or more to the cost,[29] and reducing annual carrier capacity. Each tanker will have to add 6 six days travel time.

Meantime:

“ The world's top shipping companies, including Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, stopped using Red Sea routes after Yemen's Houthi militant group began targeting vessels this month, disrupting global trade through the Suez Canal.

Instead they have rerouted via southern Africa, a longer and more expensive journey. The canal is the quickest sea route between Asia and Europe. [30]

”

And:

“ Israeli shipping companies have found a creative way to circumvent the maritime blockade imposed by the Houthis on Israel: they direct the ships from the east to the ports of Bahrain and Dubai, and from there the goods are transported by trucks through Saudi Arabia and Jordan. The creative bypass will make it possible to bring goods to Israel before Passover.[31] ”

Ynet reported on January 21, 2024 that “China and India unload their cargo in Bahrain and Dubai where it is loaded on Saudi and Jordanian trucks and makes its way over land to Israel, where Israeli trucks then receive the goods at the King Hussein border crossing with Jordan.” This route aligns with the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) that was unveiled in September 2024.[32]

On March 2, 2024 The Hill reported:

“ "More than two months of direct fighting with the Houthis has heavily taxed the U.S. military, which is spending a significant amount of money to take down cheap drones, launch retaliatory strikes and defend against rebels who are, in turn, shooting down pricey American drones.

In most cases, the U.S. is launching $2 million defense missiles to stop $2,000 Houthi drones, a discrepancy that the Yemeni rebel group has noted in its statements mocking Washington.[33]

”

In July 2025 The Economist reported traffic through the Suez Canal is down 60%, insurance premiums have rocketed from 0.2–0.3% to 1% of a ship's value.

Ongoing direct Iranian expansionist attacks

  • Between Jan 15-17, 2024, the Islamic Republic attacked three countries.

First Iran attacked Iraq - Irbil, Kurdish area. Killing 4 civilians. Condemned by the Arab League.[34]

Then, Syria.

Then on Jan 17, 2024, Iranian missiles strike Baluch militant bases in Pakistan.[35]

Both nations recalled Iran envoys. [36]

All three attacks, condemned by U.S.[37]

Then, on Jan 18: "Pakistan carries out military strikes on separatist targets in Iran following deadly attack on its own soil by Tehran."[38]


  • On Jan 20, 2024, Iranian backed militias attacked US base in Iraq, injuring at least 2 personnel.[39]

In response, on Feb 2-4, 2024, the US hit some 85 (Iran backed) targets in Syria and Iraq.[40] While Republicans criticized that it was too little too late.[41] Then on Feb 7, it eliminated a senior leader of Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq - the group responsible for the attack that killed the 3 US soldiers and wounded many.[42]

Response

At least 130 Iran linked attacks on US, by Jan.11.24

After at least 130 Iran's proxies on US.

On Jan 11, 2024, US-UK coalition strike Iran-backed Houthi targets in Yemen after spate of ship attacks in Red Sea. There were attacks on more than a dozen Houthi targets by air, surface, and subsurface platforms. The attacks were carried out with support from Australia, the Netherlands, Bahrain, and Canada. A U.S. defense official says the U.K. contributed aircraft.[43] Progressives criticized Biden.

By late June 2024 the US Navy reported it spent about $1 billion on munitions used in defending the Red Sea.[44] The flow of container ships through the Red Sea decreased by 67%, and tanker traffic decreased by 50%. Not a single cargo ship headed for Israel reached Eilat, the main seaport on the Red Sea. There were 77 attempts to sail cargo ships in this direction, and the Houthis blocked them all. After varying degrees of damage, the vessels were forced to turn around and leave for safer ports outside the Red Sea for repairs.[45]

Apr-2025, the U.S. accused China of helping the Houthis target their attacks via satellite.[46] Days later, the Houthis claimed the third downing of a $30 million American MQ-9 Reaper drone in one week alone. Sources claim this is the 22nd Reaper destroyed by Houthis since October 7th, 2023 which is somewhere in the vicinity of 10% of the entire Reaper inventory of the US Armed Forces.

According to an op-ed published in the NATO-allied, London based Financial Times in August 2024, "The Houthis have defeated the US Navy".[47]

In October 2025 the construction of a new airstrip on an island off the cost of Yemen was reported by several media outlets. Zuqar Island, where the new airstrip is being built, is located in the Red Sea near the Bab-el-Mandeb strait and is currently controlled by UAE-backed Yemeni forces that oppose the Ansar Allah (Houthis) government.[48]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Iran's proxy groups attack U.S. and Israeli-linked targets. CNN, Dec 17, 2023.
    As Hezbollah targets Israeli forces in the north of the country, CNN Reporter Katie Bo Lillis walks through the U.S. response to ongoing attacks launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Houthis Warn Maritime Coalition: Red Sea Will Be Your Graveyard. Iran International, 12/19/2023
  3. ↑ Michael Knights, An Heir and a Spare? How Yemen's "Southern Hezbollah" Could Change Iran’s Deterrent Calculus, Washington Institute, Dec 12, 2023
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Hezbollah, Hamas, and More: Iran's Terror Network Around the Globe, AJC, Dec 4, 2023
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Seth J Frantzman, Iran seeks 'single front' against US and Israel from Syria-Iraq - analysis, JPost, Nov 7, 2023
  6. ↑ Yemen's Houthis: Who are the Iran-backed militants?. Kersten Knipp 12/20/2023, DW, December 20, 2023.
    What Houthis believe.

    The Houthis' ideology can be deduced from their motto: "[Allah] is great, death to the US, death to Israel, curse the Jews, and victory for Islam."

    In their territory in northern Yemen, they have adopted a strict Islamist order with an anti-Western and anti-Israel bent.

  7. ↑ Greg Wehner, White House says 'Operation Prosperity Guardian' will counter Houthi threats against ships in Red Sea. Fox News, December 19, 2023.
  8. ↑ Megan Eckstein, Andrew Chuter and Rudy Ruitenberg, US unveils international force to defend Red Sea. Here’s what we know. Defense News, Dec 19, 2023.
  9. ↑ Benoit Faucon and Dov Lieber, Iranian Spy Ship Helps Houthis Direct Attacks on Red Sea Vessels, WSJ, Dec. 22, 2023.

    Assistance raises pressure on Israel and the U.S. to take action against the Yemen-based rebels. Iran’s paramilitary forces are providing real-time intelligence to Yemen’s Houthis that the rebels are using to direct drones and missiles to target ships passing through the Red Sea, Western and regional security officials said.

    Tracking information gathered by a surveillance vessel controlled by Iran’s paramilitary forces in the Red Sea is passed to the Houthis, who have used it to attack commercial vessels passing through the Bab el-Mandeb strait in recent days, according to the officials.
  10. ↑ https://gilbertdoctorow.substack.com/p/news-flash-houthis-attack-underwater
  11. ↑ https://twitter.com/narrative_hole/status/1768106770260541722
  12. ↑ https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2024/05/31/houthis-yemen-us-british/#
  13. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/petersuciu/2024/06/07/photos-purport-to-show-damage-to-us-aircraft-carrier-after-houthi-missile-strike/
  14. ↑ https://en.althawranews.net/2024/06/aircraft-carrier-uss-dwight-d-eisenhower-retreats-200-km-north-in-red-sea/
  15. ↑ https://uk.news.yahoo.com/ballistic-missile-launched-houthis-1-125846076.html
  16. ↑ https://lionessofjudah.substack.com/i/150966776/warships-from-one-of-natos-top-navies-take-long-way-home-from-asia-to-avoid-running-into-houthis
  17. ↑ Berzinjy, D. (2013). The Silent Escape Through the Nights of the Kurdish Regions: Based on a True Story. United Kingdom: Xlibris AU, p. 131.
    Islamic Fascist Regime.
  18. ↑ Taheri, A. (2010). The Persian Night: Iran Under the Khomeinist Revolution. United Kingdom: Encounter Books, p. 342
    Islamic-fascist ideology
  19. ↑ The Intellectual Activist. (2005). United States: Intellectual Activist, p. 8.
    Islamic fascist dictatorship of Iran
  20. ↑ Qāniʻīfard, ʻ. (2021). The Gruesome Mullah: Iran, Terrorism, MOIS, IRGC and Khomeinism. United States: Ketab Corporation, p. 100
    the Islamic fascist republic!
  21. ↑ Iran's Islamist Proxies in the Middle East, Wilson Center, September 12, 2023
  22. ↑ Even the radical anti-Israel Haaretz stated: "The Houthis don't care about the Palestinians. They're attacking Israel to gain support." Haaretz on X, Dec 19, 2023
  23. ↑ Search is "still ongoing" for two U.S. Navy sailors missing off Somalia, John Kirby say. Face the Nation, Jan 14, 2024.

    [...] Margaret Brennan: ...Houthis there say the motivation here is they're trying to get back at Israel's allies. That's a justification they're using for attacking some of these ships, does the US assess that these coalition strikes will deter the Houthis who are now bracing for a retaliation and an open-ended conflict?

    John Kirby:

    I think it'd be pollyannaish for us to think that there couldn't or may not be some kind of retaliatory strike by the Houthis, we're watching this very closely, we have taken the requisite necessary precautions in the region, to make sure we're ready for that, should occur. These strikes were meant to disrupt and degrade their ability to conduct these strikes, and so we think we had good effect on that. We're still assessing the battle damage, assessment of these strikes, so we think we had a good effect. We'll see what happens. The Houthis have a choice to make here now Margaret, and the right choice is to stop these reckless attacks. And no matter what they say, this is not about "punishing" Israel, I mean, one of the ships they took a shot at yesterday was a Panamanian flag that was taken Russian oil, had nothing to do with Israel...

    [1]

  24. ↑ Iran-backed Hamas Unleashes Terror in Israel: A Comprehensive Report By Kasturi Chakraborty, October 8, 2023.
    In a horrifying display of violence, the Islamic Fascist Republic of Iran-backed Hamas, in conjunction with other terror groups....
  25. ↑ Armin Navabi @ArminNavabi (Nov 7, 2023):
    1. IraniansStandWithIsrael

    You can't defeat Hamas with just tanks and missiles. Islam is a death cult. You can't intimidate a death cult with weapons. You defeat a death cult with a worldview that celebrates life. There is a country close to Israel full of people chanting for life, chanting for “Woman, Life, Freedom”. The Iranian people are fighting the same enemy as the people of Israel, they are fighting Islamic fascism. That is why more people from Iran support Israel than people from any other country in the Middle East. To defeat Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, and all other Islamic fascist groups, you must aim for the head. You must aim for the Islamic Republic of Iran. The only way to do that is to support the people of Iran in their battle against their oppressors.

    [2].
  26. ↑ Casali, D. (2007). New Empires. United Kingdom: Lulu.com, p.98.
    ...The Israeli ceasefire with Hezbollah (Iran's proxy army) is a huge victory for Iran. If an Islamic fascist force can fire hundreds of missiles ...
  27. ↑ Iranian Commandos Seize Israeli-Linked Cargo Ship in the Strait of Hormuz, By Paul Serran, Gatewaypundit, Apr. 13, 2024. thegatewaypundit.com
  28. ↑ "Oil And Water": America Only Has 178 Flagged Cargo Carriers Vs. China's 7,362, By Michael Every of Rabobank, Dec 12, 2023. zerohedge.com
  29. ↑ Pentagon's Operation Prosperity Guardian "Falls Apart" As Spain, Italy, France Reject Request, Tyler Durden, DEC 23, 2023. zerohedge.com
  30. ↑ https://www.reuters.com/business/hapag-lloyd-decide-wednesday-about-its-red-sea-routes-2023-12-26/
  31. ↑ Yediot Ahronot @YediotAhronot: Israeli shipping companies have found a creative way to circumvent the maritime blockade imposed by the Houthis on Israel: they direct the ships from the east to the ports of Bahrain and Dubai, and from there the goods are transported by trucks through Saudi Arabia and Jordan. The creative bypass will make it possible to bring goods to Israel before Passover. Revealed.[3] @itamareichner [4]
  32. ↑ https://archive.is/H6k5H
  33. ↑ https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/sitrep-342024-rifts-in-bibis-camp
  34. ↑ The Arab League strongly condemn the Iranian attack on the Iraqi city of Erbil, JPost, Maariv, 01/17/2024
  35. ↑ Iranian Missiles Strike Baluch Militant Bases In Pakistan, IranIntl, 01/16/2024.

    Iranian media say two bases of a Baluchi militant group in Pakistan have been struck on Tuesday, just one day after attacks on alleged 'terror' targets in Iraq and Syria.

    Although Iranian state media and news websites affiliated with the IRGC were the first to report the missile and drone attacks, they did not explicitly say that Iran conducted the strikes. Some news websites in Tehran, however, did report that IRGC launched the attack.

    However, a statement by the Pakistani government condemned what it said was Iran's violation of its airspace.

    "Pakistan strongly condemns the unprovoked violation of its airspace by Iran and the strike inside Pakistani territory which resulted in death of two innocent children while injuring three girls. This violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty is completely unacceptable and can have serious consequences," Islamabad's statement said.
  36. ↑ Iraq, Pakistan Recall Iran Envoys As Arabs Set To Meet Over IRGC Strikes, IranIntl, 01/17/2024.
    Following Iran’s airstrikes in Iraq, Syria and Pakistan, the Arab League is set to hold an emergency meeting while Islamabad and Baghdad have recalled ambassadors. 

    The Iraqi state news agency announced that the meeting will focus on Iran's Revolutionary Guards Monday missile strike on Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan. The date of the session is not announced yet. The country has also lodged a complaint at the United Nations Security Council and recalled its ambassador from Tehran. 

    Also on Wednesday, a Pakistani foreign ministry spokeswoman said the country has recalled its ambassador over the Islamic Republic’s violation of its airspace, calling it a 'blatant breach' of its sovereignty. Pakistan will not allow Iran's ambassador, who was visiting his home country, to return, the ministry said in a statement. Latest reports Wednesday evening local time.
  37. ↑ US Condemns Iranian Strikes On Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, NDTV Jan 17, 2024.
    We've seen Iran violate the sovereign borders of three of its neighbors in just the past couple of days," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.
  38. ↑ Azaz Syed, Adam Pourahmadi, Helen Regan and Sophia Saifi, Pakistan carries out military strikes on separatist targets in Iran following deadly attack on its own soil by Tehran, CNN, January 18, 2024
  39. ↑ Faris Tanyos, U.S. personnel wounded in missile attack on Iraq airbase by Iranian-backed rebels, CBS News, January 20, 2024.

    Several U.S. personnel were injured in a missile attack Saturday night by Iranian-backed rebels on Al-Asad Airbase in Iraq, the Pentagon said.

    At about 6:30 p.m. local time, multiple ballistic missiles and rockets were fired by Iranian-backed militants from western Iraq, U.S. Central Command said in a statement posted on social media.

    The base's air defense systems intercepted "most of the missiles," but "others impacted the base," CENTCOM reported.
  40. ↑ Oren Liebermann and Natasha Bertrand, US destroyed or damaged 84 of 85 targets in Iraq and Syria, officials say; no indications of Iranian casualties, CNN, Feb 4, 2024
  41. ↑ Brie Stimson and Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, US begins Syria target airstrikes in response to deadly drone attack in Jordan, Fox News, Feb 3, 2024
  42. ↑ U.S. kills senior leader of Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah in strike in Iraq, says senior U.S. official, CBS, Feb 7, 2024
  43. ↑ US-UK coalition strike Iran-backed Houthi targets in Yemen after spate of ship attacks in Red Sea., Fox News, Jan 11, 2024
  44. ↑ https://www.lewrockwell.com/2024/06/ron-paul/we-spent-a-billion-dollars-fighting-the-houthisand-lost/
  45. ↑ https://askeptic.substack.com/p/war-reports-2024-06-23
  46. ↑ U.S. Accuses China of Helping the Houthis Target Their Attacks. Apr 18, 2025
  47. ↑ The Houthis have defeated the US Navy, Tom Sharpe, Financial Times, 24 August 2024. www.telegraph.co.uk
  48. ↑ https://t.me/geopolitics_prime/58447

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