US asks Australia to send warship to Red Sea task force against Houthi attacks

ANKARA

The US has asked Australia to join a Washington-led maritime task force in the Red Sea to repel the Houthi group's targeting of Israeli vessels, local media said on Thursday.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said Canberra is considering the request by Washington but that the focus is on naval efforts closer to home, local ABC News reported.

"I want to emphasize the focus of our efforts is on our immediate region and the regional presence deployments that we have been engaged in over the last few months," the broadcaster quoted Marles as saying.

Last week, the Pentagon said it is ready to help set up a maritime task force to protect merchant shipping in the Red Sea following a series of Houthi attacks on ships which are believed to be Israeli owned, attacks amid Israel’s over two months of attacks on the Gaza Strip.

The Houthis on Nov. 19 announced the seizure of the Galaxy Leader cargo ship, co-owned by an Israeli company, saying the move came in solidarity with “the Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip.”

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid