US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has announced the establishment of a multinational security initiative under US forces to respond to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.

In a statement released on Monday, Austin said Operation Prosperity Guardian brings together at least 10 countries, including the United Kingdom and Bahrain.

Some US media reports say multinational naval forces will safeguard commercial shipping against Houthi attacks.

Yemen's anti-government Houthi group controls areas in the country's north, including the capital Sanaa, and is aligned with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

It has attacked a number of vessels in the Red Sea in recent months and says it will continue doing so until sufficient relief supplies reach the Gaza Strip.

On Monday, the Houthis announced on social media that they had attacked a container ship and an oil tanker related to Israel.

The US Central Command announced that an oil tanker registered in the Cayman Islands was attacked in the southern Red Sea with drones and ballistic missiles launched from areas under Houthi control.

It said it received reports from a cargo ship about an underwater explosion, but that no injuries were confirmed on either of the vessels.

Austin announced that he is convening an online ministerial meeting on Tuesday "to address the threat in a meaningful way in the future."