Arab opinion was divided between supporters and opponents of the Operation Prosperity Guardian coalition, which U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced Tuesday from Bahrain’s capital Manama.
This naval alliance, which aims to ensure safety of navigation in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in response to international demands, has 20 participating countries, of which 12 have been announced and This includes Bahrain, the only Arab country. so far.
Other public participants in Operation Prosperity Guardian include Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
“This coalition is a new multinational security initiative under the CMF umbrella and under the command of Task Force 153, which is focused on Red Sea security,” Austin said in a statement.
In a speech delivered at the headquarters of the US 5th Fleet, the US Secretary of Defense said: “Attack on commercial shipping in the Red Sea region constitutes a global danger, and the US-led joint force will strengthen the security of maritime navigation.” “We aim to ensure safety,” he added. Sea lanes are open to global trade flows. ”
Immediately after Austin’s announcement, 5th Fleet leadership held a small press conference for the media in which U.S. military officials said, “Operation Prosperity Guardian will protect ships and ensure the flow of maritime navigation.” It is a defense alliance to ensure the flow of maritime navigation.” “We will carry out a military offensive against the Houthis,” Bahraini media reported.
More than 50 countries affected by Houthi attacks
A military official, who declined to give his name or identity, told The Media Line that “more than 50 countries have been affected by the Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea.”
“It was not just Israeli ships that were attacked; rather, there were international cargo ships carrying goods to countries around the world, including Arab countries. They claim that it is only directed at ships heading to Israel, but that is not true,” the source added.
The official further claimed that more countries are expected to join this international naval coalition in the coming days to repel Houthi attacks on ships.
US Secretary of Defense Austin announced Bahrain’s participation in Operation Prosperity Guardian, but the GCC islands did not issue a statement regarding Bahrain’s participation. Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa also did not mention his country’s involvement in the alliance during his talks with Austin, the state-run Bahrain News Agency reported.
Bahrain News Agency said in a statement: “The King recognizes the historic relationship between Bahrain and the United States and the close and enduring partnership whose foundations have been based on trust, mutual respect and joint coordination as partners and allies for decades. “I expressed my pride in that,” he said.
The statement continued: “During the meeting, views were exchanged on the latest regional and international developments, including the situation in the Gaza Strip, the importance of efforts to achieve a ceasefire, the protection of civilians, the release of hostages and detainees, and ensuring the delivery of goods. humanitarian assistance to the people of the Strip in accordance with international humanitarian law, and the need to find a horizon of inclusive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East region.”
Divide among Arab media
The Arab media was divided between supporters and opponents of Operation Prosperity Guardian, as it was attacked by media loyal to Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood. They said Bahrain’s participation as the only Arab country in the alliance amounted to a “betrayal” of the Palestinian cause.
Saudi political analyst Mubarak al-Ati told The Media Line: Riyadh warned Washington about Houthi attacks and the dangers they pose, but the Biden administration’s response was to remove the Houthis from the terrorist list. ”
He continued, “From my perspective, Saudi Arabia did not participate in the Operation Prosperity Guardian coalition for several reasons. The first is that it happened during the Israeli war in Gaza.” , which means that the anger of the Arab public will shift from Israel to Saudi Arabia.
“While attacks on Houthi ships are not new, the United States did not move to form an international coalition to counter these attacks until the Houthis attacked ships heading to Israel,” it added.
Another major reason why Saudi Arabia chose not to join the alliance is its continued efforts to end the war in Yemen, which began in 2015. According to al-Ati, Saudi-led peace talks are in the final stages. “Thus, if Saudi Arabia joins the anti-Houthi coalition, these negotiations and the peace that Riyadh is trying to achieve will disappear,” he explained.
“We must not forget that the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement took place under Chinese auspices in March 2023. Therefore, joining the alliance against the Iranian-backed Houthis means that the chances of peace with Iran are It means collapse,” he added.
Mr. Al Atti concluded: “Under no circumstances should this [Operation Prosperity Guardian] This alliance will serve Saudi Arabia. It will protect oil tankers bound for Europe and the United States, some of which are Saudi or transport Saudi oil. Riyadh benefits from this alliance even if it does not participate in it. ”
“The Houthis are living their last days,” Iran researcher Alaa Habib told The Media Line. It seems like they are serious about destroying it.”
He continued: “Abdel Malik al-Houthi will be removed by airstrikes, and Iran will either abandon him or report his whereabouts and provide his coordinates.”
Egyptian journalist Saad Ameer criticized Bahrain’s involvement in the coalition, saying, “This coalition aims only to protect Israel’s interests. The announcement would involve the Gulf states in America’s war to defeat Israel’s enemies.”
According to Amer, “The Houthis will target Bahrain, and the GCC countries will not remain silent either. Therefore, these countries have thwarted Israel’s interests and caused great losses to Israel. It will have the power to confront al-Houthis.”
“Bahrain is part of this coalition because it is the headquarters of the US 5th Fleet,” Abdullah Al-Ghanim, a military veteran, told The Media Line.
He continued: “Bahrain has suffered from Houthi terrorism, and many Bahraini soldiers have been killed while participating in Operation Restore Hope in Yemen. The last Houthi operation in Saudi Arabia was carried out by the Bahraini Army Command Despite the existence of a ceasefire and negotiations in Yemen, five soldiers were killed and dozens injured in September 2023.
According to al-Ghanim, “There is a Joint Task Force 153 that has wide participation from various Arab countries, and this coalition is an extension of this military force, so Arab countries are essentially not participating in this coalition. It exists, but it exists in a different form.”
Joint Task Force 153 was formed to fight piracy in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, al-Ghanim said. The Strait is the same area in which Operation Prosperity Guardian Coalition operates.
“The Houthis were targeting Israel with drones and trying to seize ships to cover up their crimes in Yemen,” Saudi journalist Mohammed al-Maliki told The Media Line. Although the Houthis are well aware that their end is near, they sought to target Israel in order to gain Arab and international sympathy. ”
Furthermore, al-Maliki said, “Years ago, the Houthis targeted the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, and also targeted the border areas with Saudi Arabia almost every day, but the United States was content to only condemn them.” ” he explained.
“GCC countries have also previously called for a halt to the smuggling of Iranian weapons to the Houthis in Yemen, but the international community has remained silent in the face of this smuggling, which has led to the Houthis doubling in strength over the years. ” added Al. Maliki.
“The United Nations, the United States, and the international community have given the Houthis full control of Yemen’s Hodeidah port, which is now the epicenter of ship-hijacking operations, and now countries are paying the price for their inaction to stop the hijackings. “The Houthis have been unable to obtain military and logistical resources,” al-Maliki concluded.