• UGI USER
  • Feb 21, 2024
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EU LAUNCHES RED SEA MISSION AS U.S. SHIP IS ATTACKED TWICE

Why in the news?

  • The European Union initiated a naval operation named Aspides to safeguard shipping in the Red Sea from Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
  • Recent attacks include a Greek-flagged, U.S.-owned cargo ship hit twice in two hours by Houthi projectiles in the Gulf of Aden.
source:dailytimes

About EU launches naval mission:

  • EU launches naval mission “Aspides” to protect Red Sea shipping from Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
  • Mission initiated due to repeated attacks on a U.S.-owned cargo vessel by the Iran-backed Houthis.
  • Houthi attacks disrupted shipping since November, claiming solidarity with Palestinians.
About Houthies

·    Houthi movement founded by Hussein and Badr al-Din al-Houthi in 1990s, inspired by Iran and Hezbollah.

·    Initially social-religious, turned political, opposing Saleh regime’s corruption and support for US.

·    Insurgency started in 2004, Hussein killed, leading to multiple government offensives, strengthening Houthis by 2010 ceasefire.

About Red sea

●   Semi-enclosed tropical basin.

●   Bounded by northeastern Africa and the Arabian peninsula.

●   Extends between the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean.

●   Northern end splits into Gulf of Aqaba and Gulf of Suez.

●   Southern end connects to Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean via Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb.

●   Surrounded by desert or semi-desert with no major freshwater inflow.