Operation Aspides

Operation Aspides
Part of Red Sea crisis, Spillover of the Israel–Hamas war
Date19 February 2024 – present
(4 months, 2 weeks and 3 days)
Location
Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Yemen
Belligerents

 European Union

 Yemen (SPC)

Commanders and leaders

Josep Borrell
Alexander De Croo
Emmanuel Macron
Olaf Scholz
Kyriakos Mitsotakis
Vasileios Gryparis[1]
Giorgia Meloni
Stefano Costantino[1]

George Pastoor[2]

Abdul-Malik al-Houthi
Mohamed al-Atifi
Mahdi al-Mashat

Abdel-Aziz bin Habtour
Strength

1 Destroyer
1 Joint support ship
7 Frigates

Various aerial assets		 Yemen Unclear (see Houthi armed strength)
Casualties and losses

12 UAVs
1 USV

(As of 19 May 2024) [3]

Operation Aspides, also known as EUNAVFOR Aspides, is an EU military operation in response to Houthi engagements with international shipping in the Red Sea.[4] Named after the Greek word for shields, Operation Aspides—unlike the US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian—is a "purely defensive" mission to increase maritime surveillance in the region, provide escort to merchant vessels, and defend against strikes.[5]

  1. ^ a b "Security and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea: Council launches EUNAVFOR ASPIDES". www.consilium.europa.eu. Council of the European Union. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Tactisch commando EU-operatie Aspides aan boord Zr.Ms. Karel Doorman". Defensie.nl (in Dutch). 11 June 2024. Archived from the original on 16 June 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Great day for the Freedom of Navigation". European Union Naval Force - Operation Aspides. Retrieved 24 May 2024 – via Facebook.
  4. ^ "Aspides mission officially established". Agence Europe. 13 February 2024. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  5. ^ "Greece takes helm in EU naval mission in the Red Sea". hurriyetdailynews. 27 February 2024. Retrieved 2024-02-27.