Yemen – Red Sea

Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi warned Saudi Arabia of an all-out response hours before Riyadh announced a new multinational maritime defence coalition, with 14 countries, including Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt, signing a founding statement to protect Red Sea shipping.

Saudi Arabia has announced a mission to form an international alliance to guard the Red Sea from attacks on shipping by Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. Dozens of countries have been invited to join the coalition and, late on Thursday, Saudi Arabia said 13 countries had agreed.

[…] “The attack on commercial vessels, claimed by the Houthis, risks further heightening regional tensions and widening the current cycle of escalation with the potential to draw Yemen deeper into regional conflict,” UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said in a statement. 

The ⁠European Union (EU) must scale up its Aspides naval mission as part of broader moves to protect key maritime routes from disruption caused by the US-Israeli led war with Iran, said ⁠the EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Thursday.

The Council today adopted two decisions amending the mandates of the EU’s naval operations EUNAVFOR ASPIDES and EUNAVFOR ATALANTA. … In addition to its existing tasks, ASPIDES will now, within its means and capabilities, among others, collect and share information on suspicious activities related to critical submarine infrastructure (CSI). … Following the 2025 strategic assessment, the Council also adopted amendments to the mandate of EUNAVFOR ATALANTA … .

The decision to extend Aspides operational life from the initial two years when it was formally established as a European bloc mission in February 2024 was made public on Monday, 23 February, in an EU Council statement. The decision follows a strategic review of the Larissa, Greece, headquartered operation. The extension will be funded by €15 million to cover common costs of the three naval unit operation with a further review set to take place ahead of the new Aspides mandate ending on 28 February 2027.

On Thursday, October 16, 2025, the Bundestag extended the Bundeswehr mission in the Red Sea by one year. … Instead of up to 700 soldiers as previously, only up to 350 soldiers may now be deployed, … .

The UN Secretary-General issued a statement on Friday condemning the latest Houthi rebel attacks on shipping in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen. According to news reports, the Yemen-based rebel group – which has been battling the internationally-recognised Government for control of the country since the early 2010s – attacked the Liberian-flagged, Greek-operated Eternity C on Monday and again on Tuesday, causing it to sink on Wednesday morning.

Growing collaboration between al Shabaab and the Houthis is enabling both militant groups and contributing to heightened maritime and land-based threats on both sides of the Gulf of Aden.

Late Tuesday evening, Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said on X that "following recent discussions and contacts... with the aim of de-escalation, efforts have resulted in a ceasefire agreement between the two sides". The two sides are the US and the Iran-backed Houthi militia, which is designated a terror organization by the US and others.