Fears of a regional war in the Red Sea

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced on Tuesday, December 19, plans to form a multinational coalition to protect maritime navigation in the Red Sea called “Operation Prosperity Guardian.”

Regional war

Egyptian military expert, Hatem Saber, believes that "the international force to protect Bab al-Mandab, led by the United States of America, aims to secure maritime traffic and protect Israeli ships as they pass through areas of Houthi influence."

He told ANHA agency: “The new military coalition may drag the region into a regional war on the Red Sea borders, if international forces direct effective and overwhelming strikes against the Houthi group at sea and on land, using the military arsenal of the coalition countries that are scheduled to carry out their military operations, and it may lead to other parties entering the conflict, such as Russia and China.” To preserve its interests, which is something we do not hope will happen during the coming period.”

The military expert stressed that "the region cannot tolerate such wars, especially with the continuation of the Gaza war and the expansion of the circle of parties involved in it, especially with the participation of Hezbollah in Lebanon and signs of a crisis on the Israeli border with Jordan."

Saber believes that "America may put pressure on Israel during the coming period and force it to end the war with some psychological gains, but the Israeli street knows very well that its country lost the battle and achieved nothing."

Washington's responsibility

For his part, the writer and political analyst, Tariq Abu Zeinab, believes that “calling on the United States of America to form an international coalition is illegal and will not succeed. Washington must extract an international resolution from the United Nations in order for participation in the international coalition to become legitimate and legal and obligatory for all countries.” 

He told ANHA agency: "The Houthi movements threaten international navigation in the Red Sea and the international community, led by Washington, demands to guarantee freedom of navigation in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, especially since these attacks greatly affect stability and security in the region."

According to the researcher, "The United States of America bears a large part of the responsibility for what the Houthi group is doing, especially after it stripped it of its terrorist status despite the attacks it carried out against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which allowed the Houthis to strengthen its military capabilities."

Abu Zeinab stressed that "the United States must replace the militarization of the Red Sea for its own interests and the interest of the Israeli occupation by stopping the war on the Gaza Strip and being stricter with Iran and its militias in the region."

As for the decision not to participate with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in this international coalition, the researcher believes that “the Saudi decision is very correct because Saudi Arabia worked to eliminate problems to establish stability in the region and greatly defended international navigation, and called on the international community several times to protect international corridors, to prevent the smuggling of weapons, drugs and people.” But the international community did not bear the responsibility to protect international corridors, which is an international responsibility, not just an Arab one.”

T/ Satt.

ANHA