US Begs for Help Against Yemen's Houthis, This is Australia's Answer

US Begs for Help Against Yemen's Houthis, This is Australia's Answer

THE UNITED STATES (US) has asked Australia to join a Washington-led maritime task force in the Red Sea to repel the Yemeni-origin Houthi group targeting Israeli ships, according to local media on Thursday (14/12). 

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said Canberra was considering Washington's request but the focus was on naval efforts closer to home, local media ABC News reported. 

"I want to emphasize the focus of our efforts is on the immediate area and the deployment of a regional presence that we have carried out together over the last few months," Marles was quoted as saying by the television station. 

Location of the Norwegian tanker that was attacked by Yemen's Houthis in the Red Sea. (Source: AFP)

Last week, the US Department of Defense, the Pentagon, said it was ready to help set up a maritime task force to protect merchant ships in the Red Sea following a series of Houthi attacks on ships believed to be Israeli, attacks amid Israeli attacks on the Gaza Stripfor more than two months. 

The Houthi group on November 19 announced the seizure of the cargo ship Galaxy Leader, co-owned by an Israeli company, and said the action was carried out in solidarity with “Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip. (Anadolu/Ant/Z-4)

AS Ngemis Minta Dibantu Lawan Houthi Yaman, Ini Jawaban Australia

AMERIKA Serikat (AS) telah meminta Australia untuk bergabung dengan satuan tugas maritim yang dipimpin Washington di Laut Merah untuk mengusir kelompok Houthi asal Yaman yang menargetkan kapal-kapal Israel, menurut media lokal pada Kamis (14/12).

Menteri Pertahanan Australia Richard Marles mengatakan bahwa Canberra sedang mempertimbangkan permintaan Washington namun fokusnya adalah pada upaya angkatan laut yang lebih dekat dengan negaranya, demikian laporan media lokal ABC News.

"Saya ingin menekankan fokus upaya kami adalah di wilayah terdekat dan pengerahan kehadiran regional yang telah kami lakukan bersama selama beberapa bulan terakhir," kata Marles seperti yang dikutip stasiun televisi tersebut.

Lokasi kapal tanker milik Norwegia yang dihajar Houthi Yaman di Laut Merah. (Sumber : AFP)

Pekan lalu, Departemen Pertahanan AS, Pentagon, mengatakan bahwa pihaknya siap membantu membentuk satuan tugas maritim untuk melindungi kapal dagang di Laut Merah menyusul serangkaian serangan Houthi terhadap kapal-kapal yang diyakini milik Israel, serangan di tengah serangan Israel ke Jalur Gaza selama lebih dari dua bulan.

Kelompok Houthi pada 19 November mengumumkan penyitaan kapal kargo Galaxy Leader, yang dimiliki bersama oleh sebuah perusahaan Israel, dan mengatakan bahwa tindakan tersebut dilakukan sebagai bentuk solidaritas terhadap “perlawanan Palestina di Jalur Gaza. (Anadolu/Ant/Z-4)

SOURCE:

mediaindonesia.com