News - Middle East: The European Union has once again admitted its failure to counter Yemeni Armed Forces’ attacks while participating in the US-led coalition in the Red Sea to protect Zionist-linked vessels.

According to Business Insider, Europe has become practically incapable of safeguarding Israeli or affiliated ships in the region. The report highlighted the failure of the EU-led Operation Aspides to halt Yemeni military operations supporting the Palestinian people.

Admiral Vassilios Gryparis, commander of the mission, admitted that the average number of warships deployed under the operation does not exceed one vessel per day—“insufficient to secure such a vast operational area stretching from the Red Sea to the Gulf,” he said.

The report further revealed that the two recently targeted ships, Magic Seas and Eternity C, had not requested European protection, exposing the inability of Aspides to enforce engagement rules or regulate vessel movement.

The admiral acknowledged that the mission relies on voluntary contributions from member states and lacks authority to mandate deployments or boost naval presence. Ships that come under attack without requesting protection, he noted, are left to “sail to their fate,” often choosing to risk the journey rather than wait for “the next available protection window.”

While Europe promotes Aspides as a defensive shield for commercial shipping, the reality, according to the report, shows it to be a largely symbolic presence in the face of escalating Yemeni operations in the Red Sea.

Business Insider stressed that these Yemeni operations represent a “concerning development,” though not surprising, especially after the US withdrew from its war on Yemen last May following severe setbacks.

The report concluded that the end of the American campaign has not deterred Yemen from continuing its attacks on ships bound for or linked to Israel, leaving both Europe and the US embarrassed and proving that so-called “freedom of navigation” in the Red Sea is no longer guaranteed.

Since November 2023, Yemen has declared that its military operations in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea aim to support the Palestinian people in Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli aggression. These operations primarily target Israeli-linked vessels or ships bound for occupied ports, as part of an “economic blockade” to pressure Israel to end its siege and attacks on Gaza. 

Western powers and their allies have attempted to maintain control over these waters through joint naval missions, framing their efforts under the banner of protecting “freedom of navigation.” However, they faild to counter Yemeni Armed Forces’ attacks—stretching from the Bab al-Mandab Strait to the Gulf of Aden.

Meanwhile, Yemeni forces have leveraged asymmetric tactics, combining advanced missile systems, drones, and sophisticated intelligence operations to impose new realities on the ground and at sea. These developments have reshaped the strategic balance in the region, signaling a decline in Western dominance and elevating local actors as decisive players in determining the future of maritime security.