THE US says it has formed a naval task force with a group of countries to stop Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea.

Its Operation Prosperity Guardian includes the UK, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the Seychelles and Spain to protect freedom of navigation.

Houthi attacks with drones and ballistic missiles have led most big container lines and oil giant BP to avoid the Red Sea and therefore the Suez Canal, which could disrupt world trade.

US defence secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters he would meet ministers in a virtual meeting today to discuss how to “address the threat in a meaningful way in the future”.

Austin said the US would do everything it could to defend freedom of navigation.

“These attacks are reckless, dangerous and they violate international law,” Austin said.

“We are taking action to build an international coalition to address this threat.

“This is not just a US issue, this is an international problem and it deserves an international response.”

The taskforce will work under the Combined Maritime Forces, an existing counterpiracy operation.

Bloomberg reported yesterday that differing views between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia on the right approach to the threat had hampered US efforts to form a coalition. Neither country is mentioned in the announcement.

The talks come as another ship was attacked on Monday. Norwegian chemical tanker Swan Atlantic (IMO: 9790464) was hit aft on the port side but there were no injuries and little damage.

The Cayman Islands-flagged, 2017-built, 19,998 dwt ship was carrying biofuel feedstock from France to Reunion Island when it was hit, according to its owner Inventor Chemical Tankers. The company said the ship had no links to Israel.

A Houthi spokesperson claimed responsibility for attacks on two ships — Swan Atlantic and containership MSC Clara (IMO: 9708693) — which the spokesperson said were “linked to the Zionist entity”.

Mediterranean Shipping Company told Lloyd’s List the latter ship was safe and no one was injured, but it would not give more details.

The Lloyd’s Market Association’s Joint War Committee on Monday revised its Listed Areas, a set of high-risk waters where insurance premiums for sailing are higher.

The Red Sea Listed Area was extended three degrees north to factor in missile range.

“Shipowners have already shown their awareness of developments, with some significant re-routing announced,” said Lloyd’s Market Association head of marine Neil Roberts, secretary of the JWC.

“The older Somalia area was left effectively unchanged after reports of missiles and the definite hijacking of MV Ruen.”

Bulk carrier Ruen (IMO: 9754903), which is owned and operated by the Bulgarian company Navigation Maritime Bulgare JSC (Navibulgar), was reportedly heading to Somalia after being hijacked, prompting fears of a return of Somali piracy.

On Sunday, USS Carney shot down 14 Houthi drones. No ships were reported as damaged after the activity, the US Central Command said.

Shipping association BIMCO said nations must work together to end the threat to shipping.

“Seafarers should not be risking their lives while doing their job and keeping the world supplied,” chief executive David Loosley said.

This story was updated on December 19 to reflect the announcement of Operation Prosperity Guardian.