The European Union has raised the alert level for its Aspides naval mission in the southern Red Sea, according to reporting by الشرق الأوسط. The move follows a series of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and threats to international shipping.
The UN Security Council condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and what it described as threats to international navigation, according to العربية and اليوم السابع. The Arab League also condemned a Houthi attack on Taif and affirmed its solidarity with Saudi Arabia, بوابة الشروق reported. DW reported that the EU elevated the readiness level of the Aspides mission in the Red Sea.
Aspides is the EU's naval operation in the Red Sea, where shipping has faced repeated threats. The reported shift in the mission's alert status reflects growing concern in Europe about the security situation in the southern part of the waterway.
The statements from the Security Council and the Arab League add diplomatic weight to the response, tying the attacks on Saudi territory to the wider risk facing international shipping lanes.
What to watch next: whether the EU's raised alert level leads to a change in Aspides operations or further international action in the Red Sea.