European Union launches naval mission to protect ships in the Red Sea

The European Union (EU) launched, this Monday (19), a naval mission in the Red Sea “to restore and safeguard freedom of navigation” in the region.

The “defensive maritime security operation,” dubbed Eunavfor Aspides, comes after Houthi fighters, an Iran-aligned rebel group, began attacking international ships in the Red Sea in support of Hamas in its war with Israel.

“The European Union is responding quickly to the need to restore maritime security and freedom of navigation in a highly strategic maritime corridor,” said the head of EU foreign policy, Josep Borrell, in a statement.

“Within its defensive mandate, the operation will provide maritime situational awareness, monitor ships and protect them against possible multi-domain attacks at sea,” the statement added.

The statement did not specify how many ships were involved, and an EU spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

However, European Union diplomats previously told Reuters that the action would initially involve three ships under the bloc's command, as part of the EU's so-called Common Security and Defense Policy.

Germany already sent an air defense frigate earlier this month to join the mission, and two diplomats told Reuters that France and Italy would also contribute.

The EU highlighted that the mission will be active along the main maritime lines of communication in the Strait of Baab al-Mandab and the Strait of Hormuz, as well as in the international waters of the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman and the Gulf.