Latest news with #OperationAspides
Newsweek
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Pressure Grows as Houthis Withstand US Campaign
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Yemeni Houthis have shown growing defiance toward the U.S., despite more than nine weeks of airstrikes aimed at deterring attacks in the Red Sea and on Israel, escalating tensions with Iran over its support for the group. Newsweek has reached out to the Pentagon, Houthi officials, as well as the Israel Defense Force and Iran's foreign ministry for comment. Why It Matters The Houthi's escalating and damaging attacks mark a significant shift in the Middle East conflict. President Donald Trump has vowed to annihilate the militant group and the prolonged campaign has prompted additional U.S. military deployments. This photo released by the European Union's Operation Aspides naval force shows the Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion burning in the Red Sea following a series of attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on Monday, Sept. 2,... This photo released by the European Union's Operation Aspides naval force shows the Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion burning in the Red Sea following a series of attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on Monday, Sept. 2, 2024. More European Union's Operation Aspides/AP What To Know Since October 7, 2023, Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping and strikes on Israel have been a key part of the Iran-supported armed groups' response to the Gaza war. In 2025, the U.S. ramped up pressure through intensified airstrikes and renewed sanctions to cut off their financial and arms supply networks. Crews embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) resupply at sea and operate 24/7, targeting Iran-backed Houthi terrorists within Houthi controlled areas of Yemen.#HouthisAreTerrorists — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 2, 2025 Over a month into the campaign, the U.S. military claimed it had destroyed hundreds of Houthi targets and eliminated key commanders, while the Houthis said they had downed multiple MQ-9 Reaper drones and caused the loss of a fighter jet, which the U.S. says fell overboard from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier. On Sunday, a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis struck near Ben Gurion International Airport, evading interception by the Arrow 3 and U.S. THAAD systems—an unusual breach that raised questions about evolving Houthi missile technology. The Israeli military said it launched an investigation. "They're experts on missiles. I mean they actually make missiles, nobody thought that, but they make missiles," Trump said during an Oval Office press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in April. Experts have cautioned since the early days of the strikes ordered on March 15 are unlikely to counter entrenched power in guerrilla warfare and territorial control. "Washington must avoid acting in Yemen without at least coordinating with its regional allies in the Gulf, specifically the UAE and Saudi Arabia," Research Fellow Farea al-Muslimi and Associate Fellow Thomas Juneau at Chatham House Middle East and North Africa Program noted in an analysis published in April. But direct involvement may be elusive, as both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are reluctant to reengage militarily in Yemen after years of costly involvement that failed to defeat the Houthis. "However, both the Saudis and Emiratis have a vested interest in how the war ends and may provide more covert support to forces on the ground", Emily Milliken, Associate Director at the Atlantic Council's Middle East Programs told Newsweek. On Tuesday, the United Kingdom joined the United States in a coordinated military operation targeting Houthi positions, part of ongoing efforts to secure Red Sea shipping lanes. But Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi pushed back against Trump's request to support the U.S. operations, according to The Wall Street Journal, despite losses in the Suez Canal's revenues as a result of the maritime disruption. Meanwhile, the Houthis, who have been losing hundreds of fighters, have continued to mobilize against the U.S. and Israel, while Iran has dismissed accusations of supporting the group and warned both countries against threats towards its territory. A Yemeni soldier inspects the damage reportedly caused by U.S. airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, April 27, 2025. A Yemeni soldier inspects the damage reportedly caused by U.S. airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, April 27, 2025. Osamah Abdulrahman/AP Photo What People Are Saying Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on X: "President Trump is absolutely right! Attacks by the Houthis emanate from Iran. Israel will respond to the Houthi attack against our main airport AND, at a time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror masters." Emily Milliken, Associate Director of Media and Communications for the N7 Initiative at the Atlantic Council's Middle East Programs told Newsweek: "The Houthis' desire to strike Israel in such an important site for tourism underscores the group remains undeterred by the US air strike campaign. As long as the group's senior leadership remains intact, we can expect them to continue strikes targeting Israeli territory and maritime traffic in retaliation to US strikes and to showcase they are undeterred." What Happens Next The escalation is raising regional stakes, with rival Yemeni forces preparing ground offensives and increasing concerns of a potential Iran-Israel confrontation, as the U.S. intensifies its military involvement in the region.
Arab News
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia important as Red Sea is its front yard, says chief of EU naval mission
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is an important regional power that needs to be kept informed of security operations in the Red Sea, Rear Adm. Vasileios Gryparis, commander of the EU military mission EUNAVFOR Aspides, has told Arab News. The EU on Feb. 19 last year launched a maritime security operation, EU Naval Force Operation Aspides, in response to escalating Iran-backed Houthi attacks on warships and merchant vessels in the Red Sea, northwestern Indian Ocean, and the Gulf. In an interview with Arab News, Gryparis, who was in Riyadh as part of a regional tour, said that the Gulf countries, especially Saudi Arabia, were important to help safeguard the freedom of navigation in the region. He said: 'Among the very important countries in the area is Saudi Arabia. So, my intention here is to inform the Kingdom about what we are doing. 'Because the Red Sea, where we operate, is the front yard of the Kingdom, we believe and we are honest in that we have to inform all the countries in the area that what we do is benefiting everybody.' He thanked the Gulf Cooperation Council countries' authorities for their involvement in the MV Sounion tanker operation which helped to prevent 150,000 tonnes of oil from being spilled into the Red Sea. He said: 'This was dealing with probably an imminent environmental disaster. It's one of the reasons for this visit, and also to thank the GCC authorities for their contribution.' Commenting on Operation Aspides' role in regional maritime security, he added: 'It is crucial to build up the confidence of the shipowners and the shipping companies, and (that) they return gradually to their original trade. Of course, we are talking about civilians that are not used to being threatened in this way.' He said that the actions of the force were 'not only protecting the livelihoods of countries in the area, but also the lives of the local people.' He added: 'You can imagine that if we had had an oil spill from the MV Sounion tanker, this would have been three to four times worse than the Exxon Valdez oil spill, a major environmental disaster in Alaska in 1989.' On the challenges posed by the Houthis, Gryparis said: 'It is important to allow the shipping industry to understand that somebody is caring for them. 'We don't mind about the nationality of the seafarers, because we believe in the freedom of navigation and the value of human life, so we are protecting exactly those values.' Yemen's maritime borders became a battleground in a wider regional and international power play following the start of the conflict in Gaza. The Houthis have hindered maritime traffic through the Bab Al-Mandab Strait, which provides access to the Red Sea and Suez Canal. On continuing the operation and its resulting challenges, Gryparis said: 'This (the operation) is going to be here until this problem is solved.' He added: 'We are not allowed to enter the territorial seas and the airspace of Yemen. And any kinetic action that we take should always be necessary, proportionate and limited to the internal channel.' The EU Council has recently extended the mandate of the maritime security operation until February 2026. Gryparis said: 'They trusted me and my operation that we are delivering. So, they understood the results that we have provided so far. 'They understood that the problem has not been solved yet, and they gave us extra time in order to reach the goal. 'Besides that, they entrusted me and my operation with new tasks. So, that means that they have good confidence in our capabilities.'
Yemen Online
16-02-2025
- Politics
- Yemen Online
Yemen : European Union Extends Red Sea Operations Against Houthis for Another Year
The European Union has announced the extension of its naval mission in the Red Sea to counter threats from Yemen's Houthi rebels for an additional year. This decision comes in response to the ongoing attacks on commercial shipping in the region, which have significantly disrupted global trade routes. The EU's Naval Force Operation Aspides, launched in February 2024, has been instrumental in protecting cargo ships from Houthi attacks. The mission involves deploying European warships and airborne early warning systems to the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and surrounding waters. The extension aims to ensure the continued safety of maritime traffic and maintain the stability of this vital shipping lane. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the importance of this mission, stating, "Europe will ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, working alongside our international partners." The operation has received support from several EU member states, including France, Germany, Italy, and Belgium. The Houthis have been targeting commercial vessels in the Red Sea since November 2023, initially claiming solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. However, their attacks have since expanded to include vessels linked to the United States and the United Kingdom. The EU's extended mission is a crucial step towards safeguarding global trade and protecting European interests.
