Rotes Meer: Überblick 16. Januar

Die Angriffe der Huthi-Milizen auf Handelsschiffe im Roten Meer dauern auch nach dem groß angelegten Angriff der USA und Großbritanniens auf Huthi-Basen im Jemen vergangene Woche an – ebenso die Gegenschläge der USA. Und die geplante EU-Marinemission für die Region nimmt die erste Hürde. Eine knappe Übersicht am (heutigen) Dienstag:

• Eine Antischiffsrakete aus dem Jemen traf einen Frachter unter maltesischer Flagge – und die USA zerstörten nach eigenen Angaben vier dieser Raketen unmittelbar vor dem Abfeuern. Die Mitteilung des U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM):

U.S. Conducts Strikes in Yemen as Houthi Attacks Against International Shipping Continue
On Jan. 16 at approximately 1:45 p.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi militants launched an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into international shipping lanes in the Southern Red Sea. M/V Zografia, a Maltese flagged bulk carrier reported they were struck but seaworthy and were continuing their Red Sea transit. No injuries were reported.
Earlier in the day at approximately, 4:15 a.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Forces struck and destroyed four Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles prepared to launch from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

Reuters meldet dazu ergänzend:

One of the officials said the missiles were struck because they were being prepared to target ships in the region. (…)
But unlike the initial U.S. strikes last week, which were against pre-planned targets, Tuesday’s strikes appeared to show that the U.S. military would proactively go after Houthi military capabilities as they are detected. If confirmed, that would usher in a far more assertive posture for the U.S. military toward the Houthis.

• Bereits am Donnerstag vergangener Woche stoppte die U.S. Navy eine Dhau, die mit Waffen aus dem Iran für die Huthis beladen gewesen sein soll. Die Aktion, bei der zwei US-Soldaten durch einen Unfall ums Leben kamen, teilte USCENTCOM erst am Dienstag mit:

On 11 January 2024, while conducting a flag verification, U.S. CENTCOM Navy forces conducted a night-time seizure of a dhow conducting illegal transport of advanced lethal aid from Iran to resupply Houthi forces in Yemen as part of the Houthis’ ongoing campaign of attacks against international merchant shipping.
U.S. Navy SEALs operating from USS LEWIS B PULLER (ESB 3), supported by helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), executed a complex boarding of the dhow near the coast of Somalia in international waters of the Arabian Sea, seizing Iranian-made ballistic missile and cruise missiles components. Seized items include propulsion, guidance, and warheads for Houthi medium range ballistic missiles (MRBMs) and anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs), as well as air defense associated components. Initial analysis indicates these same weapons have been employed by the Houthis to threaten and attack innocent mariners on international merchant ships transiting in the Red Sea.
This is the first seizure of lethal, Iranian-supplied advanced conventional weapons (ACW) to the Houthis since the beginning of Houthi attacks against merchant ships in November 2023.

• Die Planungen für einen EU-Militäreinsatz zum Schutz der Schiffahrt im Roten Meer wurden ebenfalls am Dienstag vom Politischen und Sicherheitspolitischen Komitee der EU gebilligt, wie Reuters meldet:

European Union member states have given initial backing to a naval mission to protect ships from attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militia in the Red Sea, European diplomats said on Tuesday, after the launch of a U.S.-led mission in the region. (…)
The diplomats said the bloc’s Political and Security Committee, responsible for preparing foreign and defence policy, had given its initial support for the mission, which would work with like-minded partners.
The objective was to establish it by Feb. 19 at the latest and make it operational soon afterwards. Several diplomats said they hoped the process could be fast-tracked given the tensions in the region. It will be discussed by foreign ministers on Jan. 22.

Die EU-Pläne sehen die Entsendung von drei Kriegsschiffen vor. Als deutscher Beitrag ist die Fregatte Hessen vorgesehen; die Bundesregierung hatte mehrfach ihre Bereitschaft zu einer Beteiligung an der Mission bekundet. Neben einem Beschluss der EU ist dafür auch ein Mandat des Bundestages erforderlich.