Saudi Arabia has announced a mission to form an international alliance to guard the Red Sea from attacks on shipping by Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. At least three Red Sea countries, Egypt, Djibouti and Sudan, have agreed to be in the alliance, reported Middle Eastern news website Al-Monitor, citing US officials. The Red Sea lies between Saudi Arabia and Yemen on one side and Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti and Somalia on the other. It is also one of only two exit-entry points to the Red Sea, the other being the Suez Canal. Red Sea traffic dipped to its lowest level in months with only 11 vessels over the weekend, according to Reuters.