Despite deploying significant military resources, NATO forces have struggled to curb operations by Yemeni armed forces in the strategically critical Red Sea region. The French Aquitaine-class FREMM frigate, Alsace, faced severe challenges, including depleted ammunition and unexpected tactics, as revealed by its commander, Jérôme Henry.
Yemeni Tactics Catch NATO Off Guard
In an exclusive interview with Le Figaro, Commander Henry disclosed that Yemeni forces have employed innovative and devastating tactics, including water-level drones detonating on commercial ships and launching ballistic missiles. The unrestrained violence and its consequences were both unexpected and alarming.
“We were forced to use every piece of combat equipment on board after just 71 days,” Henry shared. “From Aster missiles to the 7.62mm machine gun mounted on the helicopter, as well as the 12.7mm, 20mm, and 76mm guns, we engaged three ballistic missiles and half a dozen drones.”
High-Tech Weapons Tested Under Fire
Among the weapons tested was the French-Italian Aster missile, each costing approximately $2 million. Yemeni forces pushed these missiles to their limits, forcing the Alsace to target threats that had not been initially identified. The frigate’s lack of ammunition and missile stockpiles underscored the strain on NATO forces in a conflict marked by increasing sophistication in Yemeni weaponry.
Rising Threats and Tactical Shifts
Henry observed a shift in Yemeni strategy, with ballistic missiles being used more frequently than the suicide drones that characterized earlier pro-Palestinian operations in the region. The commander described the situation as the most challenging engagement for the French Navy since NATO’s 2011 campaign in Libya to oust Muammar Gaddafi.
“The situation in the Red Sea posed a greater risk to the ship than anything we’ve faced in over a decade,” Henry remarked.
A Mission Under Scrutiny
The Alsace entered the Red Sea in January as part of the EU naval operation Aspides—Greek for “shield”—which deployed warships and airborne early warning systems to the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and surrounding waters. Brussels has maintained that Aspides is a defensive mission and not involved in US-led military actions in Yemen.
This distinction became significant as Aspides emerged partly in response to hesitation from NATO members to participate in the broader Operation Prosperity Guardian (OPG). Described by a senior US commander as one of the most significant naval battles since World War II, OPG has drawn both controversy and criticism, particularly over questions of its compliance with international law.
A Diplomatic Reckoning
Meanwhile, US Special Envoy for Yemen Timothy Lenderking acknowledged the futility of a purely military approach. “We are in favor of a diplomatic solution. We know there is no military solution,” he admitted, signaling a growing recognition within Washington of the need for a more nuanced strategy.
A Conflict in Flux
As NATO navigates the complexities of the Red Sea conflict, the Alsace’s experience highlights critical vulnerabilities in modern naval warfare and raises pressing questions about the sustainability of military operations in Yemen. With Yemeni forces adapting their tactics and leveraging increasingly sophisticated technology, NATO’s challenges in the region are unlikely to abate soon.