Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that Australia has provided support to the US and UK in retaliatory strikes against the Houthi movement in Yemen.
In a joint statement issued by the governments of Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States, the group noted the broad consensus expressed by 44 countries on December 19, 2023 condemning the Houthi attacks. Against merchant and commercial ships traveling in the Red Sea.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed Australia's involvement.credit: Dion Georgopoulos
The countries also cited their January 3 joint statement, which called for an immediate cessation of unlawful attacks, and the UN Security Council statement and resolution condemning the attacks.
The statement continued:
In response to ongoing unlawful, dangerous and destabilizing Houthi attacks against shipping, including commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea, the armed forces of the United States and the United Kingdom, supported by the Netherlands, Canada, Bahrain and Australia, conducted joint operations. Directing strikes in accordance with the inherent right to individual and collective self-defense, in accordance with the United Nations Charter, against a number of targets in areas controlled by the Houthis in Yemen.
The more than two dozen attacks launched by the Houthis on commercial ships since mid-November pose an international challenge. Today's action demonstrated a shared commitment to freedom of navigation, international trade and defending the lives of seafarers from unlawful and unprovoked attacks.
Our goal remains to calm tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea, but let our message be clear:
We will not hesitate to defend lives and protect the free flow of trade in one of the world's most important waterways in the face of continuing threats.
