Brussels The commander of the EU naval mission in the Red Sea wants to significantly increase its size to better defend against potential attacks by Yemen-based Houthi rebels, with just four warships patrolling an area twice the size of the 27-nation bloc. Are. ,
The EU mission – called Aspides, Greek for “shield” – has rescued six shipwrecks and foiled 11 attacks since it was set up less than two months ago.
It only protects civilian ships and does not participate in any military attacks. The southern part of the Red Sea is considered a high-risk area.
Rear Admiral Vasilios Greparis, Commander of the Greek Navy, said, "A transit of one of our ships between two large distances in this area can take about 10 days, and the crossing of the high-risk area also takes about two days." Can." the mission told reporters in Brussels on Monday.
He said the high-risk area has seen a number of attacks in the past months ranging from intimidation and threats to "sophisticated attacks" using "coastal, aerial and sea-based assets, drones and ballistic missiles". No one got hurt.
Nineteen of the 27 EU countries are involved in the mission but only four warships are patrolling.
Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who control much of Yemen's north and west, launched a campaign of drone and missile attacks on shipping in the Red Sea in November. They have also fired missiles toward Israel, although they largely failed or were intercepted.The attacks have affected maritime trade to Egypt and Europe, with the normal number of ships passing through the area reduced to almost half. This adds two weeks of transit time for ships that want to avoid the Suez Canal, increasing transportation costs and shipping insurance.
The rebels have described their campaign as an attempt to pressure Israel into going to war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. However, the ships targeted by the Houthis had little or no connection to Israel, the US, or other countries involved in the war.
Their campaign continues despite more than two months of US-led retaliatory air strikes.Gripari said the EU mission is also "very alert" to any escalation in attacks following last week's airstrike, widely blamed on Israel, which destroyed Iran's consulate in Syria. , which killed 12 people, including two elite Iranian generals. Top Iranian officials have promised to retaliate.
EU foreign policy chief Jose Borrell said, "We call on Iran to show restraint and use its influence to avoid escalating tensions and, in particular, with regard to the Houthis," but added: "I do not "Iran seems to be in complete control." Ka) Howth decision making. They have become quite autonomous.”
The EU mission – called Aspides, Greek for “shield” – has rescued six shipwrecks and foiled 11 attacks since it was set up less than two months ago.
It only protects civilian ships and does not participate in any military attacks. The southern part of the Red Sea is considered a high-risk area.
Rear Admiral Vasilios Greparis, Commander of the Greek Navy, said, "A transit of one of our ships between two large distances in this area can take about 10 days, and the crossing of the high-risk area also takes about two days." Can." the mission told reporters in Brussels on Monday.
He said the high-risk area has seen a number of attacks in the past months ranging from intimidation and threats to "sophisticated attacks" using "coastal, aerial and sea-based assets, drones and ballistic missiles". No one got hurt.
Nineteen of the 27 EU countries are involved in the mission but only four warships are patrolling.
Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who control much of Yemen's north and west, launched a campaign of drone and missile attacks on shipping in the Red Sea in November. They have also fired missiles toward Israel, although they largely failed or were intercepted.The attacks have affected maritime trade to Egypt and Europe, with the normal number of ships passing through the area reduced to almost half. This adds two weeks of transit time for ships that want to avoid the Suez Canal, increasing transportation costs and shipping insurance.
The rebels have described their campaign as an attempt to pressure Israel into going to war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. However, the ships targeted by the Houthis had little or no connection to Israel, the US, or other countries involved in the war.
Their campaign continues despite more than two months of US-led retaliatory air strikes.Gripari said the EU mission is also "very alert" to any escalation in attacks following last week's airstrike, widely blamed on Israel, which destroyed Iran's consulate in Syria. , which killed 12 people, including two elite Iranian generals. Top Iranian officials have promised to retaliate.
EU foreign policy chief Jose Borrell said, "We call on Iran to show restraint and use its influence to avoid escalating tensions and, in particular, with regard to the Houthis," but added: "I do not "Iran seems to be in complete control." Ka) Howth decision making. They have become quite autonomous.”
