Since the beginning of the conflict, at least four EU country-flagged ships have been struck by the Houthis.[7][8][9][10]
Mission
On 8 February 2024, EU member states took a decision in the Council of the European Union to start Operation Aspides, which was to begin on 19 February and last one year, with its base of operations being in Greece and with a Hellenic Navy officer being in charge of operations.[11][12]
According to the European External Action Service, the purpose of the operation is to protect merchant vessels against strikes, to accompany them and to reinforce maritime situational awareness in the region.[13] It thus has a "purely defensive" mandate, something which has also been underlined by EU officials, in contrast to the US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian.[14] The mission is instructed to coordinate closely with Operation Atalanta, another EU-led naval mission in the wider region.[1]
The EUNAVFOR ASPIDES Area of Operations – AOO, according with its mandate, comprise the Baab al-Mandab Straits and the Strait of Hormuz, as well as international waters in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf.[15]
Force structure
EUNAVFOR Aspides is led led by the Operation Commander, Rear Admiral Vasileios Gryparis HN. He was appointed as Operation Commander on 8 February 2024 and promoted to Rear Admiral on 2 March 2024. [15]
The operational headquarters of EUNAVFOR ASPIDES is the Hellenic European Union Operational Headquarters (EL EU OHQ) in Larissa, Greece.[16][1] The European External Action Service has indicated that 130 staff officers will be based in the operational headquarters.[13]
On 22 February, the Government of Sweden announced that Sweden would be sending some military personnel to participate in Operation Apsides. Sweden will initially send four staff officers with the possibility to increase the number to ten.[17][18] On 8 March, Finland made a decision to participate in the operation by sending a maximum of five soldiers with staff duties, in addition to dispatching up to two soldiers with similar responsibilities to Operation Prosperity Guardian.[19] On 28 March, the government of Estonia announced that one member of the Estonian Defence Forces will participate in the operation.[20]
The Force Commander in the Red Sea is Italian Rear Admiral Stefano Costantino, based on the Italian destroyer Caio Duilio.[1][21]
Embarks an NH90. Scheduled to transit the Suez Canal on April 12, deployment indefinitely postponed due to failed operational and technical tests while transiting the Mediterranean Sea, including an incident where a RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missile was reportedly "stuck" in its launch tube. On 27 April, the issues were resolved and Louise-Marie set course for the area of operations.
Embarking an NH90. Was deployed under Operation Prosperity Guardian for 25 days from late March 2024 to late April 2024 while en route to the Indo-Pacific, delivering "associated support" for Operation Aspides. During the deployment, Tromp was once raised to general quarters, the first such incident in the Royal Netherlands Navy since the Yugoslav Wars.
To be deployed from May to August under operation Aspides, embarking a Eurocopter AS532 Cougar and a Swedish surgical team. To deliver "associated support" for Operation Prosperity Guardian. Deployment to the Red Sea was delayed in early May due to technical issues with the Goalkeeper CIWS, extending its stay in Crete Naval Base for several days, departing for the area of operations on 10 May.
On 27 February 2024, the German frigate Hessen engaged and destroyed two Houthi drones.[43]
On 2 March, the Greek frigate Hydra passed the Suez Canal to join the operation in the Red Sea.[21]
On the same day, the Italian destroyer Caio Duilio shot down a Houthi missile over the Red Sea. The missile was within 4 miles (6.4 km) of the destroyer before it was shot down.[44] On 12 March, the Italian Ministry of Defense reported that the Caio Duilio had shot down two Houthi drones in self-defense.[45]
On 13 March, the Greek frigate Hydra shot down 2 Houthi drones.[46][47]
On 12 April, Belgian frigate Louise-Marie failed technical operational tests in the Mediterranean Sea while en route to the area of operations, delaying her deployment indefinitely. The test failures reportedly included a case where a RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missile got "stuck" in its launch tube.[48][49]
On 20 March, a French Navy helicopter deployed in the area of the Gulf of Aden, the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb and the Red Sea to fight against the Houthi rebels shot down a drone, the first time this had happened.[50]
On 21 March, a German Navy Sea Lynx Mk88A helicopter engaged and destroyed an uncrewed surface vessel (USV) when it approached a civilian convoy under tow. [26] On the same day, the French frigate Alsace shot down three Houthi ballistic missiles.[51]
On 6 April, the German frigate Hessen intercepted a missile launched from Houthi-controlled territory.[53]
On 25 April, the Greek frigate Hydra fired shots at two drones as part of its mission in the Gulf of Aden. According to reports, the incident occurred while the frigate was deployed to protect a merchant vessel in the maritime route. The Greek frigate reportedly shot at two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) using its 127mm cannon: one drone was shot down, and the other altered course away from the merchant vessel.[54]
On 27 April, the issues affecting the deployment of Belgian frigate Louise-Marie were resolved, and the ship set course to the area of operations in the Red Sea.[31]
On 8 May, the Netherlands Ministry of Defence announced the Karel Doorman was suffering from technical issues with one of its weapons systems, delaying the deployment into the Red Sea. Independent reports confirm the issues are with the Goalkeeper CIWS, which was deemed fully operational upon departure from the Netherlands on 21 April. After departing Crete Naval Base on 2 May, it was spotted there again on 4 May, where it awaited repairs until setting sail for the area of operations on 10 May.[41][40][42]