LARISSA: The European Union’s naval mission in the Red Sea remains operational despite Iran’s recent direct attack on Israel, the mission’s commander said on Tuesday. However, he emphasized the need for additional combat ships to safeguard merchant vessels navigating through the expansive region.
Rear Admiral Vasileios Gryparis, the commander of the EU’s Red Sea naval mission, known as Eunavfor “Aspides,” told Reuters that the mission’s operations have not been compromised following Iran’s unprecedented assault on Israel. The mission, initiated in February, aims to shield vessels from assaults launched by Houthis, who have declared their support for the Palestinian resistance group Hamas in Gaza.
Speaking from the mission’s headquarters in Larissa, Greece, Gryparis stated, “So far, there is no evidence that… the situation has worsened.” He highlighted the mission’s achievements, including the destruction of 10 drones and interception of four ballistic missiles launched by Houthis in the Red Sea since mid-February. Additionally, the mission has safely escorted 79 merchant vessels through the area.
Gryparis stressed the necessity for more combat ships to bolster the mission’s effectiveness. Currently, the mission operates with four frigates contributed by Greece, Germany, France, and Italy, patrolling an extensive area spanning from the southern Red Sea to the northwestern Indian Ocean, twice the size of the European Union’s territory.
Gryparis revealed plans to request additional support from European authorities, advocating for a substantial increase in the number of battle ships deployed in the Red Sea. “At least twice the number we have now,” he asserted.
