 Ten countries, including the U.S., have formed a coalition to protect merchant shipping in the Red Sea from stepped-up attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The Red Sea accounts for about 12% of global trade, and it's a vital link between Asia, Europe, and North America. And so there's been an increased number of attacks from the Houthi rebels from Yemen since October, and it's forced companies to consider alternatives, including avoiding the route altogether going around Africa,