German Frigate Sets Course for Red Sea on EU Ship Protection Mission

The German Navy frigate Hessen embarked from Wilhelmshaven towards the Red Sea on Thursday, preparing to join a European Union initiative aimed at safeguarding cargo ships from assaults by the Houthi rebels in Yemen, which threaten international trade routes. Approximately 240 crew members are on board, with the deployment awaiting formal EU approval and German parliamentary consent, anticipated by the end of February.

EU foreign ministers are set to green-light this Red Sea mission on February 19, with seven EU countries poised to contribute naval or aerial assets. The mission responds to the Houthis, backed by Iran, launching attacks on commercial shipping in retaliation to Israel’s military actions in Gaza against Hamas since October. These attacks often target ships without direct links to Israel, affecting a vital trade corridor connecting Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

While U.S. and UK forces have struck Houthi targets to curb their assault capabilities, the EU mission, named Aspides, will strictly focus on maritime operations without engaging in military strikes.

The U.S. Central Command announced on X (formerly Twitter) that it executed self-defense operations against Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles poised to target vessels in the Red Sea. These measures aim to ensure safe and secure navigation for both U.S. Navy and commercial ships in the area.

Additionally, a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad resulted in the death of Kataib Hezbollah’s senior commander Wissam Muhammad Sabir Al-Saadi, who was involved in planning attacks against U.S. forces. This action is part of broader efforts by the U.S. and UK, supported by allies, to target Houthi missile capabilities and other Iranian-backed groups in retaliation for attacks on American personnel.