Navy: Several Russian Warships Enter the Red Sea

Russian warships from the Pacific Fleet have crossed the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and entered the Red Sea, venturing into a maritime region plagued by Houthi attacks and crowded with naval vessels.

The detachment included the missile cruiser Varyag and frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov, reported Thursday, the Russian Pacific Fleet’s press service, which said the ships were carrying out “assigned tasks within the framework of the long-range sea campaign.”
The ultimate destination of the ships was unclear from the report, as was the reason Russia sent vessels to the area.

For months, the Yemen-based Houthis have carried out a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea in retaliation for Israel’s military actions in Gaza, forcing many ships to redirect their journeys.
The Houthis say they’re targeting ships linked to Israel, the US and UK.

Yet, they appear to have misidentified some vessels.

Missiles exploded near a ship hauling Russian oil near Yemen in late January. It happened days after a spokesman for the Houthis said that Russian and Chinese merchant ships needn’t fear attacks.
Earlier this month, Iran, Russia and China held joint naval exercises in the Indian Ocean, according to Russia’s Defense Ministry. Both the Varyag and Marshal Shaposhnikov took part in the drills, which Russia said were meant to practice “safety in maritime economic activities,” including liberating ships hijacked by pirates.

Russia has also sought a naval base on the Red Sea in Sudan, though a civil conflict in that country may put back those plans.