The White House said the United States may establish a naval task force to escort commercial ships in the Red Sea, a day after three ships were hit by missiles fired by the Houthi group.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that the United States is in active talks with allies about the formation of the guard although nothing has been finalized, describing it as a “normal” response to this type of incident.

The US military said that ballistic missiles fired by Houthi rebels in Yemen on Sunday hit three commercial ships, while a US warship shot down three drones in self-defense during an attack that lasted hours. This represents an escalation in a series of naval attacks in the Middle East linked to the ongoing war in Gaza.

Sullivan told reporters, "We are in talks with other countries about a maritime task force of some kind that will include ships from partner countries along with the United States to ensure safe passage." He pointed to the use of similar task forces to protect commercial shipping elsewhere, including off the coast of Somalia.

The Houthi attacks threaten traffic on one of the world's most vital shipping lanes, as well as global trade in general.

The US Energy Information Administration says that 8.8 million barrels of oil per day are shipped through the Red Sea and the narrow Bab al-Mandab Strait within the Houthis’ range, making it one of the most important points of global trade. Ships carry oil and natural gas from the Gulf to Europe, the United States, and China.

The Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab are part of a vital route for commercial shipping in general, as they carry millions of tons of agricultural products and other goods to markets annually.

Sullivan said that while the Houthis "have their finger on the trigger," the group's Iranian sponsors are ultimately responsible.