WASHINGTON –  The White House reaffirmed an effort on Wednesday to combat against attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea by the Houthis, an Islamic military organization based in Yemen, according to John Kirby, spokesperson for National Security Council in the White House. His comments came after U.S. Central Command said that it had shot down 21 Houthi missiles and drones fired in a “complex attack” on Tuesday night. It was the the 26th Houthi attack on commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea since Nov. 19, Centcom said.

John F. Kirby at the White House briefing on Jan. 10, 2024. (Jonah Elkowitz/MNS)

Operation Prosperity Guardian, a multinational military effort, to secure routes through the Red Sea, as an effective way to respond and repel ongoing attacks. Kirby said he vowes to do “everything” to protect shipping lanes in the region. The operation includes the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain.