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The German frigate Hessen has fended off an attack against a civilian cargo ship in the Red Sea, Germany’s armed forces, the Bundeswehr, said on X on Saturday evening.<\/p>\n
“An approaching missile was destroyed,” the army wrote.<\/p>\n
The Hessen has been deployed in the Red Sea since the end of February to protect merchant ships from attacks by the Houthi militia operating from Yemen.<\/p>\n
The operation is part of the EU military mission Aspides. On its fourth day of deployment, the frigate had already shot down two Huthi drones. In mid-March, it repelled an attack with an overwater drone against a civilian towed convoy, according to the German Armed Forces.<\/p>\n
The Red Sea is home to the most important sea route from Asia to Europe, which runs through the Suez Canal.<\/p>\n
The Houthi militia, which is allied with Iran, wants to use the attacks to force an end to the Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n