BERLIN: The German army reported overnight to Wednesday that a German frigate deployed to secure merchant shipping in the Red Sea has effectively thwarted an attack by Houthi rebels.
According to the army, the “Hesse” navy frigate intercepted a drone on Tuesday evening, deploying defense measures to neutralize the threat. Shortly afterward, a second drone approached the ship, prompting the crew to once again engage and successfully eliminate the target. Fortunately, there were no casualties or damage to the frigate during the incident.
Houthi Attacks on Red Sea Shipping
The deployment of the “Hesse” frigate is part of an EU mission launched on February 19 to safeguard international shipping in the Red Sea from attacks by Yemen’s Houthis. These rebels have been targeting the vital shipping lane since November, citing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amidst the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The United States leads its naval coalition in the area and has carried out strikes on the Houthis in Yemen, collaborating with Britain.
Concerns about the economic repercussions and inflationary pressures stemming from Houthi attacks have expedited the consensus among the EU’s 27 countries to initiate the Red Sea mission.
The “Hesse” joined the operation over the weekend following approval by the German parliament on Friday. Additionally, France, Italy, and Belgium have announced plans to contribute their ships to the mission.
