A contingent of 240 German military personnel from the Bundeswehr is set to embark from Wilhelmshaven on the frigate “Hessen” for operations targeting the Yemeni Houthis in the Red Sea.
The “Hessen” is equipped with two helicopters, medical teams, and a chaplain, as reported by Bild. This deployment is part of the EU’s Eunavfor Aspides mission to safeguard merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden from Houthi rebels.
Although the EU and German parliament’s approval for this military mission is pending, an affirmative decision is anticipated soon, with the “Hessen” expected to reach the conflict area by February’s end.
Captain Volker Küpsh highlighted the tangible threat in the Red Sea, marked by the frequent use of significant armaments.
The “Hessen,” a 143-meter-long frigate armed with anti-aircraft missiles and capable of extensive aerial surveillance, is primarily tasked with escort duties.
The increasing Houthi assaults on commercial ships are prompting major carriers to bypass the critical Red Sea-Suez Canal route, impacting global trade.
In response to these threats, the US and UK military have conducted strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen.
The Houthis launched missiles at two vessels in the Red Sea, resulting in damage to both ships. They have been actively targeting commercial vessels using drones and missiles in the Red Sea since mid-November, citing solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict with Israel in Gaza.
The group’s military spokesperson revealed that they had fired naval missiles at the Star Nasia and Morning Tide, identifying the Marshall Islands and Barbados-flagged ships, respectively, as American and British.
The Star Nasia, owned by Greek company Star Bulk Carrier, suffered damage from an explosion at 1115 GMT.
Fortunately, the crew escaped unharmed, though the exact cause of the explosion, whether it was a sea mine or rocket, remains unclear.
