EU ready to reinforce operations to protect Middle Eastern sea traffic

EU chiefs said Monday that the bloc was ready to strengthen its maritime operations in the Middle East to protect shipping routes after holding talks with regional leaders.

The EU has discussed strengthening its sea mission in the Red Sea, as US-Israel attacks on Iran triggered a wider regional war, causing the almost complete maritime traffic ban on the Hormuz Strait.

European Council President Antonio Costa, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leenen, “extended their readiness to adjust and further improve these operations in order to better respond to the” situation, a statement said.