European Naval Mission in Red Sea Faces Critical Warship Shortage, Incapable of Fulfilling Mission

A report from a German newspaper indicates that the European Union’s mission “Aspides” in the Red Sea is experiencing a critical shortage of warships, just three months after its launch.

According to Der Spiegel, Admiral Vasileios Gryparis, the mission’s commander, urgently raised concerns during a secret meeting in Brussels last week. With the withdrawal of the German frigate Hessen, only three warships remain at his disposal for the coming months, rendering him incapable of fulfilling the mission.

Admiral Gryparis appealed for assistance, stating that the mission requires at least 10 warships, in addition to reconnaissance aircraft. He highlighted the increased danger posed by Yemeni attacks, citing an incident in April where Yemeni forces disrupted the EU naval defense with a swarm of drones and damaged merchant ships.

The commander said warships have modern anti-aircraft defenses capable of engaging multiple targets simultaneously, but with a complete swarm of drones, even the most robust systems surrender.

Significantly, the European Union launched the “Aspides” mission three months ago in response to American pressure, with Sana’a confirming more that it does not target European Union ships, but only those associated with the Zionist enemy entity. Its maritime blockade against the entity was a response to the ongoing aggression and genocidal war against the Palestinian people in Gaza for seven months.

Despite Sana’a’s repeated assurances that it does not target European Union merchant ships or any other country except American and British ones, in response to their ongoing military aggression against Yemen for months, the Union responded to American desires to protect Zionist navigation and sent warships to the Red Sea on a mission named “Aspides.”

Yemen announced last November the maritime blockade of the Zionist entity in the Red Sea in response to its aggression and the Zionist siege on Gaza.

Given America’s partnership with the Zionist entity in its aggression against Gaza, America attempted to break Yemen’s maritime blockade by forming a military alliance called “Guardian of Prosperity,” with British participation, to launch continuous attacks on Yemen, resulting in more than 40 martyrs.

Yemen did not stand idly by in the face of the American-British aggression against it, as well as the ongoing genocidal war and blockade on Gaza. It escalated its attacks and included American and British ships in its targets.

Washington found itself in a real dilemma facing Yemen, as it could not break Yemen’s blockade on the entity but became unable to protect its ships, which became targets for Sana’a as a natural response to the military aggression.

The matter did not stop there; Yemen escalated its maritime blockade on the Zionist entity to include the Indian Ocean, and then to the Mediterranean Sea, threatening more if the entity continues its aggression and siege on Gaza. Yemen still has many cards to play and the resilience to confront its enemies and subject them to the will of justice.