Operation Aspides

Operation Aspides is the European Union’s defensive naval mission launched in February 2024 to protect merchant shipping against Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, Bab-el-Mandeb, and the Gulf. Its mandate is strictly protective: escorting vessels and intercepting threats aimed at them, not striking land targets. It operates in parallel with the US-led Prosperity Guardian, with both forces deconflicting through shared maritime awareness while keeping separate command and rules of engagement.