Difficulties can be expected in the EU's mission to protect merchant ships in Red Sea. This happens after the withdrawal of the German frigate "Hessen" after a two-month mission.
Mission commander Vassilios Gryparis warned in Brussels last week that he will have only three frigates in the coming months, Der Spiegel reports. This means it will no longer be able to carry out its mission of protecting ships from attacks by Houthi rebels.
In particular, it will then be possible to escort a maximum of four merchant ships daily through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait off the coast of Yemen. According to Der Spiegel, Gryparis has asked EU diplomats for at least ten warships, as well as air support with a drone or maritime reconnaissance aircraft.
The security operation was approved by the foreign ministries of EU member states on February 19. The warships participating in the mission provide armed escort to merchant ships transiting the Red Sea.
Since the beginning of the year, Iran-allied Houthi forces in Yemen have attacked shipping, claiming they were doing so in response to Israeli military action in Gaza.