BRUSSELS/PARIS — European Union member states have given initial support to a naval mission to protect ships from attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement in the Red Sea, European diplomats said on Tuesday.

Many commercial shippers have diverted vessels to other routes following attacks in the Red Sea by the Houthi militants, who control much of Yemen and say they are acting in solidarity with the Palestinians as Israel enters its fourth month of relentless bombardment of the Palestinian enclave.

The diplomats said the bloc's Political and Security Committee, which is responsible for foreign and defense policy. had given its initial support for the mission, which would work with like-minded partners.

The objective was to establish it by Feb. 19 at the latest, and to make it operational soon afterwards. Several diplomats said they hoped that the process could be fast-tracked given the tensions in the region.

The European External Action Service (EEAS) declined to comment on confidential discussions.

The United States last month said it and other countries would patrol the Red Sea in a new mission — Operation Prosperity Guardian — to try to allay fears that disruption in one of the world's top trading arteries could hit the global economy.

But some US allies, notably European states, have shown reservations about the plan and balked at the idea of being under US command. Half of the twenty countries initially involved in Operation Prosperity Guardian remained anonymous and several others never or rarely spoke of their involvement publicly.