Combined Task Force 153

{{Short description|United States Navy-led initiative}}

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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}

The Combined Task Force 153 or CTF 153: Red Sea Maritime Security is a United States Navy-led initiative established on 17 April 2022 to "focus on international maritime security and capacity building efforts in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb and Gulf of Aden."{{Cite web |date=12 April 2022 |title=CTF 153: Red Sea Maritime Security |url=https://combinedmaritimeforces.com/ctf-153-red-sea-maritime-security/ |access-date=18 December 2023 |website=Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) |language=en}} Egypt is a partner with the US in this effort.{{Cite web |title=Combined Task Force 153 Operations |url=https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/IMAGERY/igphoto/2002984201/ |access-date=18 December 2023|website=Centcom}}

The task force operates within Operation Prosperity Guardian.{{Cite web |title=Statement from Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on Ensuring Freedom of Navigation in the Red Sea|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3621110/statement-from-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-on-ensuring-freedom-of-n/ |access-date=18 December 2023|date=18 December 2023 |website=U.S. Department of Defense |language=en-US}} Following increased attacks{{Cite web|date=16 December 2023 |title=U.S. considers striking Yemeni group |url=https://www.semafor.com/article/12/16/2023/us-is-considering-striking-yemeni-group |access-date=18 December 2023 |website=Semafor|language=en}} on international shipping vessels by Houthi rebels in Yemen in beginning October 2023, the force has gained more news coverage. The Houthi movement is considered a proxy of Iran.{{Efn|See Iran–Israel proxy conflict and Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict}} Analysts indicate that these attacks are part of escalating tension in the Middle East region since the beginning of the Gaza war.