A Dutch frigate withdraws from the Red Sea, and its commander comments: The Houthis’ actions cannot be predicted

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A Dutch frigate has withdrawn from the Red Sea and headed towards East Asia, according to the Indian newspaper “The Indian Express.”

The newspaper stated that the Dutch frigate “HNLMS Tromp” is sailing towards East Asia after its withdrawal from the Red Sea.

The newspaper quoted the commander of the Dutch frigate, Yavon Bossikom, as saying, “We were in the Red Sea region for over a month, and the Yemeni threat extends from the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, which connects the sea to the Indian Ocean.”

He added, “The Yemenis are violent, and their actions cannot be predicted,” according to the newspaper.

The frigate’s withdrawal comes after a month of its presence in the Red Sea as part of the Netherlands’ participation in the “Aspidus” operation launched by the European Union against the forces of the Sana’a government.

In recent days, several European frigates participating in the “Aspidus” operation have withdrawn. Germany announced on April 21st the withdrawal of the frigate “Hessen” from the Red Sea, along with its 240-member crew, without mentioning the reasons behind it. The German army, according to the German channel “DW,” stated that “the frigate, with a crew of 240, completed its mission at 5:50 am (03:50 GMT) and left the operational area in the Red Sea,” adding that a replacement frigate would be sent “in mid-summer.”

Observers speculated that the reason behind the withdrawal of the German frigate could be the failure of its defense systems to counter attacks from the Sana’a forces, as was the case with other European frigates. Belgium announced on April 16th the postponement of the deployment of its forces in the Red Sea after the defense systems of the frigate “Louise-Marie” failed to intercept missiles and aircraft launched by the Sana’a forces. The Belgian Ministry of Defense, according to American media, stated that “Belgium has postponed the deployment of the frigate Louise-Marie in the Red Sea for an indefinite period of time after the ship failed several technical tests during training.”

Previously, the French Navy announced that the frigate “Alsace” of the “Aquitan” class returned to the port of Toulon at the beginning of April after a 71-day mission in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden as part of the European Union’s naval task force “Operation Aspidus.”

According to the French newspaper “Le Figaro,” the French Navy frigate “Alsace” returned from its operational mission in the Red Sea after what its commander, Jerome Henry, described as an unprecedented level of drone, ballistic, and naval attacks by the Houthis.

Prior to that, Denmark dismissed its defense chief following the failure of its naval units’ defense systems to counter attacks from Sana’a.

Since mid-October last year, the forces of the Sana’a government have been carrying out military operations against “Israel” and have been preventing Israeli ships or those affiliated with it from crossing the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea. They condition the cessation of their operations on “stopping the aggression on Gaza and lifting the blockade,” as stated in the military statements broadcast by the spokesman for the Sana’a government forces, Yahya Saree, following any military operation they carry out.

In contrast, on February 19, 2024, the European Union launched a military operation named “Aspidus,” led by Italy in the Red Sea, while the United States announced the launch of an operation named “Guardian Prosperity,” aimed at countering the attacks launched by the forces of the Sana’a government against “Israel,” in addition to the airstrikes carried out by the United States and Britain in Yemen. This prompted the forces of the Sana’a government to include American and British ships, whether commercial or military, in the target circle and prevent them from crossing the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea.