The Houthis have since last month fired drones and missiles at international vessels sailing through the Red SeaOn December 18 the US Secretary of Defense said several countries have agreed to jointly carry out patrols in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of AdenHowever, the US-led coalition does not include any Gulf countries as members so far, except BahrainAnalysts say the initiative, called “Prosperity Guardian” was primarily a symbolic moveNATO and EU member states have released a joint statement denouncing the repeated attacks by Houthi rebels on commercial shipping in the Red SeaThey said that the attacks “threaten international commerce and maritime security”