US forms 10-nation coalition to counter Houthi blockade of Israeli cargo vessels in Red Sea<\/p>\n
Israel faced another round of global pressure on Tuesday for a ceasefire in Gaza with a new UN vote and fresh Western diplomatic efforts, although the United States vowed to continue arming its ally.<\/p>\n
The UN Security Council was set to convene Tuesday to weigh a call for a ceasefire in the besieged Palestinian territory after a previous bid was vetoed by the United States.<\/p>\n
UK Foreign Minister David Cameron was also due to meet French and Italian leaders to push for a “sustainable ceasefire” in the conflict, his office said.<\/p>\n
The Gaza health ministry says Israel’s brutal military response has killed more than 19,400 people, mostly women and children.<\/p>\n
The ministry said an Israeli strike killed at least 20 people on Tuesday in the southern city of Rafah, near the border with Egypt.<\/p>\n
On a visit to Israel, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin vowed Monday to keep arming its ally, which Washington has already provided with billions of dollars in military aid.<\/p>\n
“We’ll continue to provide Israel with the equipment that you need to defend your country… including critical munitions, tactical vehicles and air defence systems,” Austin said.<\/p>\n
Austin was touring the Middle East as concerns grew over the war’s spread around the region, with Yemen’s Houthis attacking international shipping in the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestinians.<\/p>\n
Austin announced the formation on Monday of a 10-nation coalition to quell the rising number of Houthi attacks on tankers, cargo ships and other vessels in the Red Sea.<\/p>\n
The coalition includes the United States, United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain, Austin said.<\/p>\n
In the latest incidents, Houthi fighters said Monday they had attacked two “Israeli-linked” vessels in the Red Sea.<\/p>\n
The UN Security Council had been scheduled to vote on a ceasefire resolution on Monday. A draft of the resolution had called for an “urgent and sustainable cessation of hostilities” in Gaza to allow “safe and unhindered humanitarian access”.<\/p>\n