The French military announced that its forces are keeping two frigates available to carry out reconnaissance missions and protect ships near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, amid growing threats to shipping in the Red Sea and intensified European Union efforts to strengthen the capabilities of its Aspides naval mission.
The French military said its forces are contributing to the protection of commercial ships passing through the area from threats posed by the Houthi group to vessels transiting the region. The assignment of the two frigates is part of European efforts to increase the protection available to commercial ships in the Red Sea and the waterways near Bab el-Mandeb.
European Union seeks to increase protection for ships
European Union countries are pushing to provide more warships to escort commercial vessels, as security concerns linked to shipping in the Red Sea and the strait grow. The Aspides mission's tasks include escorting ships and monitoring security developments in the maritime corridor and surrounding areas.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on 9 October 2026 that the bloc had asked its member states to provide additional warships to escort commercial vessels as they leave the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea. Kallas said the mission needs at least 10 ships to carry out its duties, but acknowledged that the European Union does not currently have that number.
She added that work was continuing to increase the number of ships available to the naval mission. The European Union raised the alert level for the Aspides mission last month after the Houthi group's escalation and its control of parts of Yemen's western coast overlooking the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a development that heightened concerns about maritime security in the area.
Aspides launched after Houthi attacks
The European Union launched the Aspides mission in February 2024 to protect commercial ships and ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, following attacks by the Houthis on commercial vessels in the area. The mission previously announced that 260 ships had requested protection and escorts since the attacks on commercial vessels began.
The forces taking part in the mission continue to monitor the security situation in the Red Sea, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the surrounding areas.
