Aden (South24 Center)

The European Union's maritime mission in the Gulf of Aden, "ASPIDES," on Saturday (March 28), urged commercial vessels to avoid Yemeni waters amid escalating security concerns in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden following missile attacks launched by the Houthi militia toward Israel.

In a statement, the European mission noted that the threat level remains "medium" for vessels not linked to Israel or the United States. It emphasized that its deployed units continue to monitor developments closely and remain on high alert for any escalation that could threaten the security of international navigation.

This warning coincided with a report published by The Wall Street Journal, citing an Israeli security official, which stated that the Houthis launched a second missile toward Israel on Saturday. The missile was intercepted without any reported casualties.

Earlier that day, the Houthis announced a missile attack targeting "Israeli targets," asserting that the operation came "in response to continued military escalation and the targeting of infrastructure in Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, and Palestine," and that their operations "will continue until the declared goals are achieved."

For its part, the Israeli military stated that the attack involved a ballistic missile and a cruise missile launched from Yemen, both of which were intercepted without causing injuries.

Israeli media quoted a senior Israeli military official as saying that Tel Aviv had anticipated the possibility of the Houthis joining the fighting since the beginning of the war, describing the attacks as an "attempt to distract attention."

The official emphasized that Israel is "not confused" by these attacks, stressing that his country will continue to target Iran and will decide "when and how" to respond to the Houthis, adding: "They will pay the price."

Over the past two years, the Houthis have escalated their operations outside Yemen, targeting commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, in addition to launching missiles and drones toward Israel.

This trajectory became clearly prominent in late 2023 when the Houthis seized the cargo ship "Galaxy Leader," before later expanding the scope of their operations to include dozens of ships. This has led to widespread disruption of international navigation and the diversion of shipping routes away from the Red Sea.

During 2024 and 2025, the Houthis also claimed several long-range attacks against Israeli targets, linking their military operations to regional developments. This prompted the United States, Britain, and Western partners to conduct counter-strikes, alongside strengthening international naval presence in the region.

The European Union decided on February 23 to extend the "ASPIDES" mission until February 28, 2027, allocating funding of approximately 15 million euros to cover common costs during the new period.

"ASPIDES" was established in February 2024 as a European defensive maritime operation following a series of Houthi attacks targeting commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb, and the Gulf of Aden. It currently works to secure primary shipping lanes while monitoring developments in the Strait of Hormuz, the Arabian Sea, and the Gulf of Oman. The operation is headquartered in Larissa, Greece, and is led by Commodore Vasilios Gryparis.