Aspides, the Greek word for "shield", will be the name of the European operation against the Houthis in the Red Sea as announced a while ago by the High Representative of the EU, Josep Borrell, attending the informal council of Defense Ministers in Brussels.
Borrell explained the name because of the operation's aim of protecting ships. He also expressed hope that it could start on February 17.
At the same time, he emphasised that it must be decided which country will have the administration, where the headquarters will be and what the member states will provide.
According to European sources, there is talk of an upgraded role for Greece in terms of administration.
Yemen’s Houthis say they will target US and British warships in self-defence
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis said they plan to continue targeting US and British warships in the Red Sea in self-defence, the group’s military spokesperson said in a statement carried by Al-Massirah TV.
The Houthis fired missiles at US warship USS Gravely, the statement added. On Tuesday night, the US military’s central command said they had shot down one anti-ship cruise missile fired from Yemen toward the Red Sea with no damage reported.
The Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, have been attacking ships in and around the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza war. The US and British have launched strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen and returned the organisation to a list of “terrorist” groups.
READ MORE: Prospect for Armenian workers in Greece advances.
