Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Lebanon: Two Israeli airstrikes targeted Wadi al-Aziziya in the Tyre district.
CIA spokesperson says law enforcement responded to a security incident outside CIA headquarters.
Brigadier General Saree: Operation achieved its targeted successfully, forcing millions of Zionists to flee to shelters, and halted air traffic at the airport.
YAF spokesperson: We've executed a military operation targeting Ben Gurion Airport in occupied Yafa with ballistic hypersonic missile.
IOF warning forces residents to evacuate and head South in preparation for expansion of aggression.
IOF issues large-scale evacuation orders for residents of 14 areas in northern Gaza.
Israeli media say that for second time in span of hours, a ballistic missile is launched from Yemen toward "Israel".
Israeli media say large explosion heard in central "Israel".
Israeli media: Missile launch from Yemen takes place at end of Yahya Saree's announcement.
Israeli media: Sirens blare in occupied Al-Quds.

Germany's 'Hessen' frigate joins EU mission to Red Sea for 'safe sea'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 25 Feb 2024 13:36
3 Min Read

Equipped with anti-aircraft missiles, the 469-foot-long warship has a radar reconnaissance system with the ability to track 1,000 targets and attack helicopters at the same time.

  • x
  • German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius speaks at the Munich Security Conference at the Bayerischer Hof Hotel in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. (AP)
    German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius speaks at the Munich Security Conference at the Bayerischer Hof Hotel in Munich, Germany, on Saturday, February 17, 2024. (AP)

The German Defense Ministry announced on Sunday that the German frigate Hessen will join the European Union's naval mission under the pretext of 'securing navigation' in the Red Sea amid targetting by the Yemeni Armed Forces in support of Gaza. 

"The frigate Hessen has arrived in the Red Sea. Its mission [to ensure] safe sea lanes begins," the ministry stated on X.

Mit #EUNAVFOR #Aspides schützt Deutschland gemeinsam mit unseren Partnern die Freiheit der Seewege. Minister #Pistorius ist stolz auf die Besatzung der Fregatte Hessen👇 https://t.co/WMafbJsxQ1 pic.twitter.com/mesxgwVaIJ

— Verteidigungsministerium (@BMVg_Bundeswehr) February 23, 2024

Earlier this month, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius revealed plans to deploy a crew of 240 soldiers for participation, adding that the frigate carries two Sea Lynx helicopters, a medical team, marines, and a chaplain.

Read next: EU facing credibility crisis amid waning influence in West Asia

Related News

Iran recalls German ambassador over mosque closure, cites Islamophobia

Parliament probe into Scholz for tax fraud shut down

Equipped with anti-aircraft missiles, the 469-foot-long warship has a radar reconnaissance system with the ability to track 1,000 targets and attack helicopters at the same time.

The ministry noted that Hessen is specifically designed for surveillance and is capable of monitoring air space with an area the size of the North Sea, as its anti-aircraft missiles can reach targets over 99 miles away.

How 'defensive' can it be?

It is predicted that the frigate will remain in the Red Sea until the end of April, according to the ministry's website, while in the second half of the year, the Hamburg frigate will be deployed.

In late January, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the European Union's security mission in the Red Sea will be "defensive" and will not involve attacks on Yemeni territory.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on January 31 that the European Union aimed to establish and launch the maritime mission in the Red Sea no later than February 19, claiming that it would be "defensive" and no operations would be carried out on land. The EU mission, dubbed Aspides, allegedly aims to focus solely on protecting merchant ships by intercepting Yemeni rockets. 

"It is designed to last for a year. However, if necessary, we can certainly reevaluate," a source told reporters in Brussels at the time.

After the Yemeni Armed Forces vowed to target Israeli and Israeli-bound vessels in the Red and the Arabian seas amid the ongoing aggression on the besieged Gaza Strip, the Pentagon announced the establishment of a multinational operation under the pretext of "securing navigation" in the Red Sea.

  • Hamburg
  • Hessen
  • Germany
  • Yemen
  • Red Sea
  • Annalena Baerbock
  • Josep Borrell
  • European Union
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

YAF say struck 'Israel's' Ben-Gurion Airport with missiles, drones

YAF say struck 'Israel's' Ben Gurion Airport with missiles, drones

  • MENA
  • 18 May 2025
Israeli media: Yemen may push 'Israel' towards ceasefire in Gaza

Israeli media: Yemen may push 'Israel' towards ceasefire in Gaza

  • MENA
  • 17 May 2025
Rachel Accurso criticized for speaking out on Gaza children crisis

Ms. Rachel accused of antisemitism for speaking out for Gaza children

  • Politics
  • 20 May 2025
Martyrs, injuries in violent Israeli bombardment of southern Gaza

Israeli operation fails; IOF launch violent strikes on Gaza

  • Politics
  • 19 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Yemenis chant slogans during a weekly anti-US and anti-Israeli rally in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, May 16, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Operations against 'Israel' yielding tangible results: Ansar Allah

People walk between buildings, Dec. 17, 2024, on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts (AP)
Politics

Trump blocks Harvard from enrolling foreign students

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, steps out from his plane as he arrives at Muscat, Oman, Friday, April 25, 2025, a day prior to negotiations with US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff (AP)
Politics

Iran no longer benefits from reviving the 2015 nuclear deal: Araghchi

A Microsoft sign is decorated in celebration of the company's 50th anniversary at Microsoft headquarters, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Redmond, Wash (AP)
Technology

Microsoft prohibits 'Palestine' in internal messages

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS