The EU Plans to Deploy Three Military Ships to the Red Sea to Counter Houthi Attacks

The European Union is planning to send at least three military ships to protect vessels in the Red Sea from attacks by Yemeni Houthi rebels, as reported by Politico. According to documents from the European External Action Service, the EU intends to establish a 'new EU operation' that will 'operate in a broader area, from the Red Sea to the Persian Gulf.' The operation could commence as early as the end of February.

Yemeni terrorists-Houthis, acting with military support from Iran, claim responsibility for attacking ships in the Red Sea, one of the world's busiest maritime routes, as a gesture of support for Palestinians in Israel. The terrorist attacks by Houthis on trade ships have forced them to take longer routes around the Horn of Africa.

Initially considering the use of its anti-piracy mission, Atalanta, operating in the Indian Ocean, the EU faced opposition from Spain, leading to the exploration of a new mission. The EU follows the example of the U.S. and allies in protecting ships in the Red Sea. In December, the U.S. initiated Operation Prosperity Guardian, comprising a coalition of 20 partners, with only 13 willing to disclose their participation.

The EU proposal states that the 'exact size and composition of the operation will depend on further operational planning' but includes 'at least three anti-aircraft destroyers or frigates with multifunctional capabilities for at least one year.'

The new mission will be based on Agenor, a joint surveillance operation led by France, covering the entire Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and parts of the Arabian Sea. Nine European countries will participate: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, and Portugal.

Today, it became known that Iran's military-naval forces seized a Greek oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman. The vessel, St Nikolas, formerly known as Suez Rajan and associated with the Greek shipping company Empire Navigation, was transporting one million barrels of crude oil.

Earlier, Yemeni Houthi rebels, armed and supported by Iran, claimed the bombing and seizure of an Israeli ship on December 19.