The 27 EU member states have approved plans for a military mission to protect merchant shipping in the Red Sea from Houthi attacks, multiple diplomats confirmed to dpa. Called Operation Aspides, the operational headquarters of the mission is in the Greek city of Larissa. The mission involves deploying European warships and airborne early warning systems to protect cargo ships in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and surrounding waters. A final formal decision to deploy the mission will be taken at a EU foreign ministers in Brussels on February 19.