EU said to be planning to assist US-led Red Sea operation
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The European Union is proposing to expand the mandate of its counter-piracy mission off the Horn of Africa to assist the new US-led operation to combat attacks on Red Sea shipping mounted by Yemen's Houthi rebels, dpa has learned.
EU foreign policy head Josep Borrell has put forward a proposal to expand the Atalanta mission off the Somali coast that is currently being considered by the bloc's 27 members.
During a meeting of the EU's security committee on the issue on Thursday, only Spain is reported to have had reservations. Brussels diplomats believe that these are based on differences of opinion in Madrid and can soon be resolved.
Operation Prosperity Guardian, which has been initiated by the United States, aims to boost the international military presence in the Red Sea following rocket and drone attacks on commercial shipping by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis.
The Houthis are attacking shipping they see as linked to Israel as part of efforts to support Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
A number of EU member states have offered bilateral support to the US initiative, but countries including Spain and Germany are seeking an EU mandate to allow the navies of member states to participate in monitoring the Red Sea.
Escorting commercial ships with naval vessels carrying defensive systems against missiles and drones is also being considered. Military action targeting the Houthis is not thought to be under consideration.
Spain's Defence Ministry has noted that continuing Operation Atalanta remains important, as there have recently been several attacks on ships.
In Yemen, supporters of the Houthi rebels took to the streets in several cities on Friday to protest against the US-led Red Sea alliance.
Thousands of Houthi loyalists rallied in the rebel-ruled Yemeni capital Sana'a and voiced support for the Iran-backed group's anti-US and anti-Israel stance.
The rally was staged under the motto "The coalition to protect Israeli ships does not terrorize us." Protesters chanted slogans such "any ship comes near, we'll hit it," according to pro-Houthi television channel al-Mesirah.
A similar rally took place in Saada, a Houthi stronghold in northern Yemen.
The protests were staged days after the rebels' leader Abdel-Malek al-Houthi said his group would continue attacks on Israeli-owned ships, or those heading to Israeli ports.
He described the US-led operation in the Red Sea as a move aimed to turn the area into a battlefield.
