SINGAPORE – Singapore is not taking part in the military offensive against Yemen’s Houthi rebels, but is participating in a multinational force aimed at keeping shipping safe in the Red Sea, the Ministry of Defense (Mindef) has said. Announced.
In response to a question, Mindef said in a statement on January 13 that the Singaporean military was involved in Operation Prosperity Guardian, an international maritime security force formed to respond to attacks on transport vessels by Yemeni Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. (OPG).
“OPG has no connection to the military offensive against the Houthis,” the statement added.
In December, the Singapore-flagged Danish container ship Maersk Hangzhou was attacked by Houthi missiles in the Red Sea. Two U.S. destroyers responded to the rescue call, and one of the warships shot down two anti-ship ballistic missiles fired at the ship.
The Iran-backed Houthi rebels said the attack was aimed at showing support for the Palestinian militant group Hamas in its war with Israel in the Gaza Strip.
In December, the rebels announced they would target all ships bound for Israel, regardless of nationality, and warned all international shipping companies not to call at Israeli ports.
On December 31, US military helicopters made their first direct hit on Houthi forces, sinking three boats and killing fighters who tried to board the boats.
On January 9, the United States and Britain shot down 21 missiles and drones in what they said was the largest Houthi attack to date directly targeting their warships in the region.
On January 12, both countries launched air and sea strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen following attacks on ships.
The Houthis are an armed rebel movement that has come to control much of Yemen over the past decade.
Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen, speaking in parliament on January 9, said that attacks by the Houthi rebels had forced all five of the world’s largest shipping companies to halt shipments through the Red Sea, the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia. He said that it had been stopped.
He added that the Singapore Armed Forces will deploy a team from the Republic of Singapore Naval Information Fusion Center to assist with information sharing, and a team of planners to work with international partners to develop operational plans.
Mindef’s statement said the OPG is an initiative in line with the aims of the 39-nation Combined Maritime Forces, headquartered in Bahrain.
One of the unit’s missions is Joint Task Force 153: Red Sea Maritime Security, which includes more than 20 countries and focuses on efforts to protect ships from security threats through information sharing and maritime patrols. Masu.
Approximately 12 percent of the world’s maritime trade passes through the Red Sea.