#Semafor: Blinken could not persuade the Arabs to participate in the operation in Yemen

During a visit to the Middle East, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken failed to persuade Arab countries to join the US-led operation Guardian of Prosperity aimed at fighting the Yemeni Houthis in the Red Sea, Semafor reported on Friday, citing sources.

Earlier, Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin announced the launch of the multinational operation Guardian of Prosperity to protect the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden amid attacks by Yemeni Houthi rebels on merchant ships. According to him, the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain will participate in the operation.

"Blinken failed during his Middle East tour this week to persuade regional heavyweights like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Egypt to join the coalition," the newspaper writes.

According to Arab officials, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are not interested in providing any significant support for the military operation. Other countries, such as Qatar and Egypt, avoid participating because they fear that they will then be considered to be on the side of the West in the struggle between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement.