News - Yemen: European countries began withdrawing their warships from the Red Sea on Saturday, following the Yemeni Armed Forces’ announcement of the fourth phase of escalation in support of Gaza.

The French Navy confirmed the end of its only frigate’s participation in the European Union mission in the Red Sea, known as Aspides.

The EU mission stated that the frigate is now heading to the military port of Toulon in southern France, noting that the mission’s commander visited the ship before its departure in an apparent attempt to dissuade it from leaving.

The French withdrawal comes as Yemen prepares to intensify its naval operations in response to the Zionist occupation’s escalation in the Gaza Strip.

Yemeni forces have announced they will target all ships bound for the occupation’s ports, regardless of their nationality.

It remains unclear whether the withdrawal reflects France’s conviction about the futility of protecting the occupation—especially in light of its recent stance on the Zionist plan—or whether it stems from concerns over the potential consequences of the anticipated Yemeni escalation.

French warships have previously faced difficult circumstances in the region, most notably being denied entry to their base in Djibouti. This incident reportedly prompted Paris to communicate with the Yemeni Armed Forces to de-escalate tensions and pledge not to participate in American-led aggression.

Since late 2023, Yemen’s Armed Forces have dramatically escalated their military operations in response to the Israeli enemy's war on Gaza and the broader US.-British support for it. As part of their declared solidarity with the Palestinian people, Yemen has launched a sustained campaign targeting Israel-linked ships in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and beyond—expanding its strategy to include aerial and maritime blockades on the Israeli entity.

Recently, Israeli enemy’s war cabinet on Friday approved a military blueprint to capture Gaza City and tighten its grip on the besieged strip—an area it has relentlessly bombarded for months. 

Israel has been facing mounting outrage over its destructive war on Gaza, where it has killed more than 61,300 people since October 2023. The genocidal war has devastated the besieged strip and brought it to the verge of famine.