Status: 12.12.2023, 16:32 PM
By: Jens Kiffmeier
CommentsPrint Share
A Houthi missile hits a ship in the Red Sea – again. The U.S. wants to intervene with warships – and is demanding help from the Bundeswehr.
Berlin – Consequences after several incidents in the Red Sea: After the Houthi rebels once again attacked a tanker with missiles on the international trade route, the United States is insisting on a decisive resistance. A powerful alliance is now to be forged to protect shipping lanes – with the help of the Bundeswehr. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) is said to have already received an official request from Washington and assured an examination of the matter. So will the Navy soon deploy to a new mission in the Eastern Mediterranean?
Because of Houthi attack in the Red Sea: US asks Bundeswehr for help
The Houthi rebels have carried out several attacks on ships in recent months, including a Norwegian oil and chemical tanker. The incidents have alarmed the international community. As the Handelsblatt reports, the US wants to forge a naval alliance to protect shipping traffic in the Red Sea and is therefore also holding very concrete talks with the German government about the participation of the Bundeswehr. The Americans had expressed a fundamental interest in stronger maritime cooperation to the Inspector of the Navy, the paper wrote, referring to information from government circles.
Has a request from the US about an anti-Houthi operation in the Red Sea: German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD). © Osamah Yahya/Kay Nietfeld/dpa/Montage
Warships and specialists – what can the Navy do against the Houthis?
However, concrete ideas of the US administration of Joe Biden were not known. Several options are being discussed, ranging from sending warships to the Red Sea to deploying individual naval specialists. What the U.S. favorites are, according to the report, remained unclear. Within the Federal Government, there is still no conclusive position. The Ministry of Defence, the Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Chancellery are involved in the consultations.
In any case, incidents in the Red Sea are to be expected in the coming period. The Houthi rebels, who are supported by Iran, have repeatedly announced attacks on ships "of all nationalities". The Houthis have been increasingly attacking Israel since the outbreak of the Gaza war. They had already significantly expanded their arsenal of weapons in recent years.
Against this background, the militants announced that ships delivering aid to the Gaza Strip would be allowed to pass, while all other ships would be stopped. This has led to an escalation of tensions and jeopardized the safety of shipping in the Red Sea. Despite the announcement to the contrary, the attacks by the Houthi rebels had recently also affected the delivery of food and medicine to Gaza.
0
Read also
0
Russia's drone war: Ukraine relies on resourceful spotlight help
READ
In the fight against Putin's army: Ukraine shows dramatic video of Bradley tank
READ3
Special Armament: Warship USS Mason surprises enemies with Star Wars cannons
READ
Tank battle off Avdiivka shows arguably Ukraine's best unit in action
READ
In the dispute over the debt brake, a new proposal comes from Habeck
READ
Fancy a voyage of discovery?
My Area
Houthi rebels attack Norwegian tanker – US shows flag
Despite this, the Houthi rebels had directly attacked a tanker off the coast of Yemen as recently as Monday (11 December). The oil and chemical tanker "Strinda" was hit by a cruise missile, the responsible regional command of the US military announced early Tuesday morning. The British Maritime Warning Centre (UKMTO) also reported the incident in the Bab al-Mandab strait, 15 nautical miles west of the Yemeni coastal city of Mocha.
The U.S. has already increased its presence in the eastern Mediterranean and is ready to take further action with allies to contain the Houthi rebels. They argue that the threat posed by the Houthi rebels not only endangers shipping, but also affects the stability and security of the entire region. (jeki/mit dpa
)