"The frigate 'Hydra' is about to set sail in the next few days for the Red Sea, for foreign waters, thousands of miles away from the Greek borders," the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) said in an announcement on Friday, calling for popular resistance to the departure of any Greek frigate for the Red Sea.
"We have the power... to impose our rights, for Greece to have no involvement in the US-NATO-EU wars against the people. New Democracy's government, with the consent of SYRIZA and PASOK and the other parties, is magnifying Greece's involvement in the war. It is sending a frigate to a war zone in the Red Sea, participating in the EU, USA, NATO missions and assuming command of the EU mission at the Command HQ in Larissa.
"Our country's participation in the war is contrary to popular sentiment, which is expressed in the large-scale solidarity with the Palestinian people and the other peoples of the area," KKE added.
The Greek government announced in December it would send a naval frigate to the Red Sea to protect shipping after attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi group.
"The frigate will participate in the multinational operation 'Prosperity Guardian', for the protection of merchant ships, the lives of seafarers, the global economy," Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias said in a statement at the time.
Greek ship owners control about 20% of the world's commercial vessels in terms of carrying capacity.
The Iran-aligned Houthis are playing an escalating role in the Middle East, with attacks on shipping and the firing of drones and missiles at Israel in a campaign they say aims to support Palestinians in the Gaza war.
READ MORE: