Saudi Arabia has announced a mission to form an international alliance to protect the Red Sea from attacks on shipping by Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. Dozens of countries have been invited to join the coalition, though membership has not been finalized, according to Reuters.

The Houthis imposed a maritime blockade on the kingdom on July 20, disrupting oil shipments diverted to the Red Sea after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Reports also indicate they plan to impose tolls on shipping passing through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait off Yemen's coast.

Tensions along the Red Sea shipping route have further hit global energy prices and supply chains. The new Saudi-led alliance is set to be headquartered in Riyadh and could be unveiled as early as Thursday.

The list of invited countries has not been officially released, but reportedly includes the US, Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, Germany, France, and Italy. At least three Red Sea countries—Egypt, Djibouti, and Sudan—have agreed to join.

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman held an urgent meeting with US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. He allegedly conveyed that the kingdom opposes further escalation of the US-Israel war on Iran but is ready to "defend itself."

Iranian officials have called the accusations a "major miscalculation." The Red Sea is one of the world's most vital shipping routes, carrying 30% of global traffic. The Bab al-Mandeb Strait is a critical chokepoint for oil exports, with 4.1 billion barrels passing through in 2024.

The Houthis, who took control of Sanaa in 2014, have been fighting the Saudi-backed internationally recognized government. They have targeted Saudi oil tankers and are considering imposing tolls on shipping, which Yemen's information minister called a "dangerous escalation."

Source: www.aljazeera.com