2023-12-16 06:26:00
Strack-Zimmermann wants to deploy the German Navy in the Red Sea to protect against Houthi rebels
December 16, 2023, 7:26 a.m. Listen to article
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The German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd is stopping its container trips through the Red Sea after repeated attacks by the Houthi rebels. FDP politician Strack-Zimmermann is therefore calling for the German Navy to be deployed to “stand up to the terrorists”.
The chairwoman of the Defense Committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, supports a possible involvement of the German Navy in protecting free maritime traffic in the Red Sea. “We should support the navy, together with international partners, in protecting the ships,” said the FDP politician after the attack on a container freighter belonging to the German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd in the maritime area.
It is “consequent that everyone who depends on their goods being transported through the Red Sea should take part,” Strack-Zimmermann continued. This also involves ships from European companies. She demanded: “We must resolutely stand up to terrorists of all stripes.” The container ship “Al Jasrah” was shot at and damaged in the strait between Yemen and Djibouti. The federal government condemned the attack the day before and is already examining a request from the USA for the German Navy to participate in an operation.
A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said the recent almost daily attacks on civilian merchant ships in the Red Sea and in the Al-Mandab Strait were completely unacceptable and constituted a massive encroachment on the security of international shipping. Most recently, Yemeni Houthi rebels had ships attacked in the Red Sea. It was only on Thursday that German shipowners demanded protective measures from the federal government and the EU.
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock condemned the attacks on cargo ships. “The attacks by the Houthis on civilian merchant ships in the Red Sea must stop immediately,” demanded the Green politician during a visit to Berlin by acting Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib. The attacks also underlined “that the security threat to Israel comes not only from Hamas in Gaza, but also from the Houthis.” They threatened international shipping and freedom of trade routes.
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