EU wants more frigates to guard ships from the 'Houthi militia'; Yemen's ministry says 198 ships crossed Bab al-Mandab in five days

The EU account. Frankfurter Allgemeine reports that Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign-policy chief, wants more frigates for Aspides, the EU mission meant to protect ships "from the Houthi militia". The paper says "the need is great, but pledges are lacking". It says two states have signalled readiness, but does not name them.

The Sanaa account. IRNA, Iran's state news agency, cites Yemen's transport ministry: 198 commercial ships crossed Bab al-Mandab in five days. IRNA says the figure shows "continued international shipping" through the strait.

Two measures, two names.

The label matters. Call them a militia and the figure reads as a claim. Call them a ministry and it reads as official.

What is not settled - Whether 198 ships in five days is more or less than normal. IRNA gives no baseline, and no other report we hold checks the count. - How many ships were attacked or threatened. Neither report gives a number. - Which two states are ready to send ships, and how many frigates Aspides needs. - We hold only the opening lines of both reports.

This story is about whether ships can safely use the southern entrance to the Red Sea, and who is armed to protect them.

The strait. Bab al-Mandab is a narrow channel between Yemen, on the Arabian side, and Djibouti and Eritrea, on the African side. It links the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea, and through the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean. Much of the shipping between Asia and Europe passes through it.

How it got here. The Houthi movement, also called Ansar Allah, took Yemen's capital, Sanaa, in 2014. In March 2015 a Saudi-led coalition went to war to restore the government the movement had pushed out. Yemen has been split between rival authorities ever since. The Houthis govern Sanaa and much of the north, including the Red Sea coast near the strait. The UN-recognised government holds other parts of the country.

After the war in Gaza began, following the attacks of 7 October 2023, the Houthis began attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea from November 2023. They said they were acting in support of Palestinians. Many shipping firms sent their vessels the long way around Africa. The United States and the United Kingdom began striking Houthi targets in January 2024. In February 2024 the EU launched Aspides, a naval mission with a defensive mandate: it escorts and protects ships but does not strike on land.

The actors. The EU runs Aspides with warships that member states lend it. Kaja Kallas has been the EU's foreign-policy chief since December 2024. Iran is politically aligned with the Houthis. The US and others accuse Iran of arming them; Iran denies directing them. IRNA is Iran's state news agency.

What is at stake. If the route is seen as safe, ships return and the costs of the detour fall. If it is seen as dangerous, Europe needs more ships to protect it.

Where it stands. The reports we hold do not say whether attacks are still happening this week.