The 27 EU member states have approved plans to set up a military mission to protect merchant shipping in the Red Sea from Houthi attacks, multiple diplomats confirmed to dpa on Thursday. 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. Called Operation Aspides, the operational headquarters of the mission is in the Greek city of Larissa. A final formal decision to deploy the mission will be taken at an EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on February 19. The European Union reac…