The fact that so many countries in the region did not assist the ships quickly in order to deter the Houthis shows that it is not a priority. The Iranian-backed Houthis are emboldened after sinking two ships last week in the Red Sea.

A total of 10 crew members have been rescued so far after Yemeni militants sank a Greek-owned cargo ship in the Red Sea.

Yemen's Houthi rebels killed 3 mariners with an attack on a ship in the Red Sea, a European naval force says, fueling concern over a possible new wave of attacks by the Iran-backed group.