The German frigate Hesse will sail to the Red Sea to confront the Yemeni Houthis.
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240 Bundeswehr soldiers will depart from the Wilhelmshaven military base on the frigate Hesse to the Red Sea to conduct an operation against the Yemeni Houthis. In addition, there are also two helicopters, medics and a military chaplain on board.
Plans for the EU mission Eunavfor Aspides include sending several European warships to the region to protect cargo ships in the Gulf of Aden from the Houthis.
The EU resolution and Bundestag mandate for the Red Sea operation are still under consideration, but a decision is expected to be made soon. It is planned that the frigate Hesse will arrive in the combat area before the end of February.
Frigate captain Volker Kübsch said that “the threat in the Red Sea is no longer abstract, it is very concrete and consists of a large number of weapons that were regularly used there.”
At the same time, military expert Markus Kaim, in an interview with WELT, warns of the danger for the frigate Hesse.
There is a high risk of escalation in Operation Aspides. It is an illusion that the Bundeswehr frigate will not come under fire and will not have to defend itself. This is an extremely dangerous operation for our soldiers,” says Kaim.
The length of the frigate Hesse is 143 meters, the ship, among other things, is equipped with anti-aircraft missiles and is designed specifically for maritime escort. According to the Bundeswehr, its special radar can monitor airspace comparable to the size of the North Sea.
Due to Yemen’s Houthi attacks on commercial ships, major shipping companies are increasingly avoiding the shortest sea route between Asia and Europe through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. This is now having a significant impact on the global economy. The US and UK, in turn, recently attacked Houthi targets in Yemen.
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.