US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has asserted that “reckless” Houthi attacks in the Red Sea “must stop”. He made the statement at a virtual ministerial meeting touting a new international patrol mission to secure shipping lanes in the Red Sea, Al Jazeera reports.

“We’re all here because many countries can directly contribute to our common efforts to keep strategic waterways safe,” said Austin.

“These reckless Houthi attacks are a serious international problem and they demand a firm international response,” he added.

The US-led patrol mission — Operation Prosperity Guardian — will include joint patrols of Red Sea shipping with companies. The United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain will also take part in the patrol.