EU launches Red Sea mission as US-owned bulker gets attacked twice

The European Union has launched a naval mission to protect Red Sea shipping after the Houthis continued their attacks on commercial vessels on Monday, targeting a bulk carrier twice within hours.

Maritime security specialists Ambrey said Monday the US-owned and Greek-flagged ship had first called for military assistance, citing a missile attack some 100 nautical miles east of Aden, Yemen, only to report a second incident about two hours later.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also confirmed the incident, with both sources adding that the vessel’s crew were safe and proceeding to the next port of call. The yet unnamed ship reportedly has 23 crewmembers and was taking grain from Punta Alvear in Argentina to Aden.

Earlier on Monday, the Houthi militants claimed an attack on the Belize-flagged Rubymar, a British-registered and Lebanese-operated bulker in the Bab el-Mandeb strait, and said it was at risk of sinking.

These attacks were followed by another two incidents of one vessel being followed by two drones for half an hour in the northern end of the Bab al-Mandeb, while the second one was struck in the same region some 60 nautical miles north of Djibouti, sustaining “superficial damage”.

The Houthi claims of attacks come as the US carried out five strikes in Yemen on Saturday as part of Washington’s military campaign to stop trade disruptions occurring across the Red Sea.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the decision to deploy Naval Force Operation Aspides on X, saying: “Europe will ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, working alongside our international partners.”

The naval mission will send European warships and airborne early warning systems to the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and surrounding waters. So far, France, Germany, Italy and Belgium have joined the initiative.

“For now, it is clear that despite the more offensive posture of the US and UK forces in the region this has done nothing to reduce the frequency of attacks launched by the Houthis,” noted Lars Jensen, CEO of Danish consultancy Vespucci Maritime