German Warship Shoots Down Two Drones In Red Sea Amid Escalating Houthi Attacks

A German warship was able to shoot down two drones in the waters of the Red Sea on Tuesday amid rising attacks by the Houthis and efforts extended by the EU to safeguard international shipping, informed German officials. Shipping risks have also gone up owing to continuous strikes by the Iran-led Houthis in the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Red Sea since November 2023, in what they refer to as acts of solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza war against Israel.

British and U.S. forces have responded with airstrikes on Houthi facilities but have failed to halt these terrifying attacks. Germany’s navy frigate, Hessen, was deployed earlier in the month to the area. It could shoot the drones down within 20 minutes of each being fired, a spokesperson associated with the defence ministry told at a press briefing, declining to comment on the target of those projectiles.

The radar system recognized them and also featured a different range. That’s precisely why two kinds of weapons were used, the ministry spokesperson said. On Monday, the spokesperson said the warship identified a suspicious drone but could not shoot it down successfully.

France, Italy, and Greece are among those nations that will participate in the EU mission and will have three vessels initially under the EU’s command. Participating countries will be mandated to safeguard commercial vessels and intercept the cruel attacks but not take a direct part in the strikes against Houthis on land.

This is perhaps the most hazardous deployment of Germany’s navy in many years, said a spokesperson associated with the German government at the briefing. The Houthis, who are in complete control of the most populous provinces of Yemen, sent out to shipping officials as well as insurers formal notice of what they refer to as a ban on vessels associated with Israel, Britain, and the U.S. from sailing in any surrounding sea.

The ban and the attacks may result in expanding the zones deemed unsafe for sea navigation, restricting insurance capacities and increasing the premiums for vessels that operate in or near the areas, per Sebastian Hov, the CEO of 18 Insurance.

He added that the inflated insurance costs, with the diversion of vessels to the longer routes to avoid high-risk areas, will strain worldwide supply chains. There were zero updates on the fate of Rubymar after it got struck by a Houthi missile on February 18 in the waters of the southern Red Sea and started to leak fuel. The vessel continues to be submerged in water amid the fears that it will eventually sink.

Reference: Reuters

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