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The Bundeswehr wants to send the frigate ‘Hessen’ on Thursday for a possible mission in the Red Sea. The ship will leave Wilhelmshaven on Thursday for the Mediterranean Sea and then – subject to a mandate from the EU and the Bundestag – participate in the international naval mission to protect the sea routes in the Red Sea, the Federal Ministry of Defense announced. Tuesday in Berlin.
“A possible deployment to the Red Sea will mean a new endurance test for the ship and crew,” explained the commander of the “Hessen”, frigate captain Volker Kübsch. He pointed out the risks of deployment in the Red Sea, where the Iran-allied Houthi militia from Yemen has been attacking merchant ships with missiles for weeks.
“The threat there is no longer abstract, but very concrete and consists of a large number of weapons that were regularly used there,” Kübsch explains.
240 soldiers on board
According to the Ministry of Defense, the “Hessen” will leave with a crew of about 240 soldiers. In addition to the actual permanent crew, this includes the flight operations team for two Sea Lynx on-board helicopters and other operational personnel such as a team of doctors, Marines and a military chaplain.
Frigate Captain Kübsch referred to the capabilities of the ship and its crew. He therefore wanted to “remove some of the concerns about us from all the friends and relatives of the crew,” he explained. “You can rely on us in every respect.”
Designed to protect ships from attack
The EU mission ‘Aspides’ (Ancient Greek for ‘shields’) aims to help protect merchant ships against attacks by the Houthi militia in Yemen. Continued attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea since early October have partially halted shipping in the region.
The militia sees itself as part of the pro-Iranian ‘Axis of Resistance’ in the war in the Middle East against Israel. Warships from an international coalition led by the US have been trying to secure the route along the Yemeni coast since December.
The EU mission will include three warships, along with escort aircraft such as helicopters and drones. It does not envisage attacks on Houthi positions on land, as is the case with Britain and the US’ ‘Poseidon Archer’ mission. The formal decision on the EU mission is expected to be taken at the next meeting of foreign ministers on February 19. The Bundestag would then have to decide on German participation. (AFP)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
