EU to launch Red Sea naval mission to protect ships from rebel attacks

US-owned ship Genco Picardy came under attack from a bomb-carrying drone launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Gulf of Aden (Indian navy via AP)

The European Union (EU) plans to launch a naval mission in the Red Sea within three weeks to help defend cargo ships against attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen which are hampering trade and driving up prices, the bloc’s top diplomat has said.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he wants the mission to be up and running by February 17.