The day after the Houthis threatened to expand their attacks against ships into the Mediterranean Sea, the European Union’s “ASPEDS” mission announced the strengthening of its military presence in the Red Sea with a Belgian frigate to contribute to protecting navigation alongside American and British forces.

The Iranian-backed Houthi militias have been attacking ships in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Indian Ocean since last November, under allegations of supporting the Palestinians in Gaza, and trying to prevent the navigation of ships linked to Israel, as well as American and British ships.

The European mission expressed in a tweet on the “X” platform its enthusiasm to welcome the Belgian frigate “Louise Marie”, and said that its joining with its experience and skills is “invaluable as we will deal with operational challenges together.”

The countries of France, Germany, Italy, Greece, and Belgium are participating in the European Union mission in the Red Sea, in addition to a Danish frigate that returned from the mission to its base. It suffered a malfunction in the weapons system following a Houthi attack. A German frigate also returned to its bases awaiting the sending of a replacement.