Greek Frigate in First Action Against Houthi Drones in Gulf of Aden

Greek frigate Hydra was involved in its first combat operation in the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday firing missiles at two Houthi-launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) which were threatening a cargo vessel off the coast of Yemen.

According to an announcement by the Hellenic Navy, the threatening UAVs were forced to abandon their mission.

“On Wednesday, March 13, 2024 and in the morning hours in the Gulf of Aden, the Frigate HYDRA as part of the EUNAVFOR ASPIDES operation, protecting a merchant ship, fired a gun against 2 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), under the rules of engagement. The UAVs left and the frigate continues its mission normally,” the announcement reads.

The Hydra frigate sailed from the Salamis Naval Station on February 26, and on March 3, 2024, it was deployed in the Red Sea area and joined the European Union Operation “Aspides”, which translates to “shields” in Greek, mandated to protect shipping in the Red Sea.

The EU mission is run from a military base in Larissa in central Greece under the command of Greek navy Cdre. Vasilios Griparis.

Over the weekend Defense Minister Nikos Dendias visited frigate Hydra.

Επίσκεψη ΥΕΘΑ @NikosDendias στη Φρεγάτα «Ύδρα»https://t.co/atXXHpm4nP
ΒΙΝΤΕΟ : https://t.co/7TVhIrUFKW pic.twitter.com/hKXJDPX4YR

— Υπουργείο Εθνικής Άμυνας (@Hellenic_MOD) March 11, 2024

“It was an honor to be accompanied by the Chief/HNDGS General Dimitrios Houpis and the Chief/HNGS Vice Admiral Eleftherios Kataras HN on the Frigate “Hydra” which patrols the Gulf of Aden, in the context of @EUNAVFORASPIDES, protecting our national interests in a hazard area,” the minister said in a post on platform X on Monday.

Participation of the Greek frigate in EU mission has risks

Dendias, emphasized during his visit to the Hydra frigate before sailing, that the participation of Hydra “involves risks, significant risks.”

He added, however, that Greece is compelled to take part: “Greece, as a maritime power with a leading role in world shipping, attaches great importance to the need to ensure free navigation, as well as the lives of Greek sailors.”

With a crew of two hundred, the frigate is designed in Germany and is part of the MEKO group of modular warships.

The EU mission in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea

The EU naval force is deployed along the main sea lanes in an area including the Straits of Bab el-Madab, the Straits of Hormuz, and the international waters in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and the Persian Gulf.

The strategic objective will be to escort ships in the area of operation, provide situational awareness, and protect ships from multi-dimensional attacks at sea “in full respect of international law, including the principles of necessity and proportionality” in a sub-area of the region of operations.

Greece, a major commercial shipping power, has been directly affected by the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. The port of Piraeus near Athens reported a drop of 12.7 percent in activity at its container terminal in January.

Germany, Italy, and France will also provide warships for the mission, joining the Hydra, while Italy will assume tactical command, according to Greek officials.

Officials in Athens have described the Aspides mission as defensive, adding that Greece would not take part in US-led attacks against Houthi military targets in Yemen.

In recent months, the dangers for shipping in the Red Sea region have increased dramatically, as Iranian-backed Houthi fighters have targeted commercial shipping with drone and missile attacks, as well as more brazen assaults by boat and helicopter.