Pistorius visits frigate before deployment in the Red Sea. It is the Bundeswehr's first foreign deployment for which Pistorius is responsible as Defense Minister.
The primary goal of the mission is to protect merchant ships from attacks by the militant Islamist Houthis from Yemen. The militia wants to force an end to the Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip by shelling ships. The Iranian-backed militia attacks ships with long-range missiles, drones and kamikaze boats. Large shipping companies are increasingly avoiding the shortest sea connection between Asia and Europe.