As of: February 20, 2024, 10:57 a.m
By: Stefan Krieger
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The Bundeswehr is facing a dangerous naval operation.
The aim is to protect merchant ships in the Red Sea from the militant Islamist Houthi militia.
Souda - The Bundestag's final decision on the operation is still pending, but Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) is already on site.
Pistorius arrived in Crete on Tuesday (February 20) to visit the frigate “Hessen”, which is to take part in the EU operation to protect merchant ships from attacks by the Houthi militia from Yemen.
The minister was received in the morning on the warship, which is currently waiting off the Greek island of Crete to begin its mission.
The crew of the “Hessen” consists of around 240 soldiers.
The Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen has been regularly attacking ships in the Red Sea since the war between Israel and the radical Islamic Palestinian organization Hamas began in October.
On Monday, the EU foreign ministers finally decided on the naval deployment to protect the important trade route.
The Bundestag mandate is still missing for German participation, which will be voted on on Friday.
It provides for an upper limit of up to 700 soldiers.
Operation against Houthi rebels: Anti-aircraft missiles are part of the Bundeswehr frigate's equipment
Operation “Aspides” is considered the most dangerous purely naval operation in the history of the Bundeswehr.
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 Gaza war was triggered by the terrorist attack and massacre by the Islamist Hamas and other extremist Palestinian groups in Israel on October 7th.
Boris Pistorius on board the frigate “Hessen” with frigate captain Volker Kübsch, and Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, FDP defense expert.
© Michael Fischer/dpa
The frigate “Hessen” is equipped, among other things, with anti-aircraft missiles.
It was designed specifically for escort and maritime control.
According to the Bundeswehr, its radar can monitor airspace the size of the entire North Sea.
Their anti-aircraft missiles range more than 160 kilometers.
In addition to the regular crew and two helicopters, there are also other emergency services on board, including a team of doctors and a military chaplain.
First new foreign assignment under Pistorius
Pistorius is facing his first responsibility for a foreign deployment of the Bundeswehr as Defense Minister.
He consciously decided to send the ship to the Red Sea early in order to make it ready for use immediately after the Bundestag vote.
In the coming days it will set off from the port of Souda on Crete towards the Suez Canal.
The sea route through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal is one of the most important trade routes in the world.
However, due to Houthi attacks, major shipping companies are increasingly avoiding this shortest sea route between Asia and Europe.
This is now having a significant impact on the global economy.
In response, the US and UK recently attacked Houthi targets in Yemen.
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Attacks with missiles, drones and kamikaze boats expected in the Red Sea
The Iranian-backed militia attacks ships in the Red Sea with long-range missiles, drones and remote-controlled kamikaze boats.
The task of the “Hesse” is to accompany civilian ships and repel attacks.
It is clearly stated that attacks on the Houthi militia are not part of the operation.
Before the start of the mission, Pistorius once again emphasized the “defensive mission” of the operation.
It's "all about defense against attacks from missiles, drones and other things," said Pistorius on
ZDF's "Morgenmagazin"
on Tuesday.
The operation “should not be confused with the joint mission that the Americans and the British have given each other,” said Pistorius.
NATO partners are also shelling Houthi positions on land as part of their “Poseidon Archer” mission.
(
skr/dpa/afp
)