German military frigate heads toward the Red Sea for a planned EU mission to protect ships

A German Navy frigate set sail on Thursday toward the Red Sea, where Berlin plans to have it take part in a European Union mission to help defend cargo ships from atttacks by Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels that are hampering trade. EU foreign ministers are expected to sign off on the Red Sea mission on Feb. 19. The Iranian-backed Houthis have waged a persistent campaign of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships over Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas, which began in October.