As of: February 8, 2024, 9:45 a.m
By: Rebecca Rohrich
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The Bundeswehr Navy is sending the frigate “Hessen” into the Red Sea to protect merchant ships from Houthi attacks.
The operation could be very dangerous.
© IMAGO/Manfred Segerer
The Bundeswehr Navy is sending the frigate “Hessen” into the Red Sea to protect merchant ships from Houthi attacks.
The operation could be very dangerous.
Berlin - Attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea by Houthi rebels have increased sharply since the beginning of 2024.
For this reason, some European countries are now sending warships to the region to protect merchant ships.
On Thursday morning, the Bundeswehr frigate “Hessen” will set off from Wilhelmshaven for the Red Sea.
The Bundeswehr frigate “Hessen” goes into battle against the Houthis
The warship “Hessen” is specially equipped for maritime control and escort protection.
245 men and women are on board.
The “Hessen” has radar systems that can cover 400 kilometers and defensive weapons with a range of 160 kilometers.
But the Bundeswehr is faced with an enemy that is no less well equipped: the Houthis.
Because the Houthis are also militarily equipped by Iran.
As the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) in London reports, the Houthis, for example, have anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCM) with a range of around 800 kilometers.
Protection of merchant ships in the Red Sea: Vice Admiral expects a very dangerous operation
According to welt.de,
the responsible Vice Admiral Jan C. Kaak expects
“heavy use of weapons”.
This means that the operation will be very dangerous for the “Hesse”.
This may be the most dangerous mission in its history for the warship, which has been sailing the world's oceans since 2006.
Iran equips Houthi militia with weapons
The Houthi militia wants to force an end to the Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip by shelling ships, which followed the unprecedented massacre by the Islamist Hamas in Israel on October 7th.
According to Defense State Secretary Siemtje Möller, an EU decision on the mission is expected by February 19th at the latest.
The SPD politician said on the sidelines of an informal meeting of EU defense ministers in Brussels that there could then be an accelerated discussion by the Bundestag immediately afterwards.
The journey of the frigate “Hessen” to the war zone in the Red Sea lasts about a month.