Sri Lanka's navy said yesterday it was joining a US-led maritime taskforce to protect international shipping against attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels.
"We will be joining 'Operation Prosperity Guardian' led by the US Navy," naval spokesman Gayan Wickramasuriya said, with the deployment of a patrol vessel crewed by more than 100 people.
Houthis have launched more than 100 drone and missile attacks in Israel the Red Sea, disrupting traffic in the key shipping route that carries up to 12 percent of global trade.