Recent reports have highlighted the struggles of the European task force established to protect ships in the Red Sea from Houthi rebel attacks. The task force, named Aspides, was created by the European Union in February as part of efforts to restore security to the region. However, despite being led jointly by the Greek and Italian navies and modeled after similar task forces deployed to combat Somali pirates in the Horn of Africa, Aspides has faced challenges due to the complex nature of the threat posed by Yemeni rebels.
The mission has faced setbacks, including a successful attack by Yemeni rebels that compromised the air defense systems of European ships. With only three active battleships in the mission and limited intelligence coverage, Aspides is struggling to meet the demands placed on it by the European Union. The situation is further complicated by the withdrawal of a German battleship from