Two hundred forty German sailors on the frigate Hessen departed for perhaps their most dangerous mission ever on February 8. Trade routes in the Red Sea are threatened by Houthi terrorists backed by Iran. The sailors are set to protect German and European Union interests in the region and must be prepared for a potentially dangerous escalation.

The stakes are too high for Germany to lose the region to Iran. While awaiting formal approval for a mission from the EU and the Bundestag, the frigate set off for the Mediterranean to be near its final destination: the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb strait.

“With Operation Aspides, Europe will take responsibility for the security of the sea routes on one of the most important trade routes for Germany and Europe,” a senior official at the German Ministry of Defense noted. “It is absolutely clear that the mission is essential.”

German merchant ships are at risk, as are Germany’s economy and influence in the region.

The Red Sea corridor, via the Suez Canal, is a vital route connecting Europe with some of its most important trade partners, including India and China. The German economy is already struggling because of the covid-19 pandemic, reduced trade with Russia, and a transition to green energy. Losing the Red Sea shipping lane would be devastating.

But there is more to it than trade and wealth.

Israel’s N12 News claimed in December that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed the United States and Germany that if they don’t act against the Houthis, Israel will act militarily on its own.

Iran is backing Houthi terrorists to weaken Israel and its allies. If Israel stands alone in this struggle, its enemies will feel emboldened.

Since December, warships from an international coalition led by the U.S. have been attempting to secure the route along the Yemeni coast. But the EU is leading its own mission: Germany is pursuing its own ambitions using the EU as a cover. If it escalates into conflict, it will be Iran versus Germany.

Germany is preparing for just that.

Vice Adm. Jan Christian Kaack explained:

As we are going into a fierce battle, only a ship that can assert itself with its weaponry comes into question, one whose crew is 100 percent trained to deal with the threat. The Hessen frigate we have selected is prepared for this. It is our gold standard, so to speak.

He called it “the most serious deployment of a German naval unit for many decades.”

Capt. Volker Kübsch echoed the seriousness of the mission: “The threat there is no longer abstract; it is very concrete and consists of a variety of weapons.”

N-TV.de commented: “[W]ith long-range radar systems and weapon systems that can engage targets both close by and up to 160 kilometers away, there is no ship in the Navy that is better prepared for such a mission.”

After the Houthis’ coup in 2015, Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry wrote:

The Houthi takeover in Yemen proves that Iran is implementing a bold strategy to control the vital sea-lane from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. …

The strategic importance of controlling this passage is equal to controlling the Suez Canal, since both are part of the same thoroughfare. …

Now that Iran controls Yemen, it can virtually close or open the spigot on Middle East oil bound for Europe. And Europe is taking notice!

He predicted Germany would act against Iran in the future, leading to an unprecedented war. Right after the Oct. 7, 2023, attack against Israel, Mr. Flurry called on our readers to watch Germany.

Events are proving this forecast accurate because it is informed by Bible prophecy. As Germany heads into one of its most critical and dangerous military missions in decades, you need to understand these prophecies for yourself. Read Mr. Flurry’s article “The Battle for the Red Sea” in the February Trumpet issue.

Germany is preparing for a conflict, but almost no one understands why. You need to understand Germany’s true ambitions.