Greece will join a US-led naval coalition to protect the Red Sea global shipping lane from Yemen’s Huthi rebels, the defence minister said.

According to AFP, a Greek navy frigate will join the task force on orders from Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said Defence Minister Nikos Dendias.

As a foremost shipping nation, Greece had a “fundamental interest” in addressing a “massive threat” to global maritime transport, Dendias said in a televised statement.

The task force announced by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Monday initially included Britain, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain.

The Iran-backed Huthis say their missile and drone strikes on passing container ships are in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The attacks in waters leading to the Suez Canal, a chokepoint for about 10 per cent of global trade, have forced many shipping companies to divert their vessels.