News- Yemen: British media have commented on Denmark’s decision to withdraw the frigate Iver Huitfeldt after it was targeted by the Yemeni Armed Forces in recent operations. The strikes were part of efforts against the European Aspides mission, which had been tasked with protecting Israeli shipping before being effectively neutralized.

The British newspaper The Telegraph stated that Denmark’s abandonment of its best warship following its failure in the Red Sea is a painful blow to the Danes.

The report emphasized that “this serves as a lesson for the British Navy,” implicitly warning London against deploying warships in a zone now within the operational range of the Yemeni Armed Forces.

The Danish News Agency reported that the Chief of Defence recommended scrapping modernization plans for the Iver Huitfeldt and retiring it from service due to severe technical failures encountered in the Red Sea. This suggests that the Yemeni Armed Forces successfully exposed vulnerabilities in European warships—just as they had previously done with American aircraft carriers, battleships, and destroyers.

The Danish frigate Iver Huitfeldt suffered a major scandal in the Red Sea after revealing significant defensive flaws while attempting to counter an attack launched by the Yemeni Armed Forces. As a result, the ship was withdrawn from the Red Sea and several military officials were dismissed for failing to inform the Defence Minister about these defects and malfunctions. Meanwhile, many European countries have since withdrawn their warships from the Red Sea, fearing they would be targeted after failing to safeguard Israeli shipping.

Despite multiple rounds of US-led airstrikes aimed at neutralizing Yemen’s capabilities, the country has continued to demonstrate military resilience. Using low-cost drones and missiles with high impact, Yemen has drained US resources, forcing the Pentagon to reassess its strategy. American aircraft carriers such as the Eisenhower and Truman were eventually withdrawn after suffering operational fatigue, psychological tolls on crews, and strategic setbacks.

Yemen’s campaign in the Red Sea not only exposed vulnerabilities in Western naval power but also signaled a shift in the region’s military balance. European forces, initially part of a US-led coalition, began withdrawing one by one following direct attacks, such as the disabling of a Danish frigate, and growing political pressure at home. The confrontation is now widely seen as one of the most significant naval standoffs since World War II.