The United States has promised to form an international coalition to protect merchant shipping in the Red Sea from attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen; we hear from a leading expert on piracy and maritime terrorism.

(Photo: A view of the British-owned and Japanese-operated cargo ship Galaxy Leader, which was reported to have been captured by Houthis in the southern Red Sea, in this handout image taken near Queensland, Australia November 27, 2018. Credit: Reuters)