German frigate ‘Hessen’ escorting a merchant vessel (EU Mission)
22-03-2024 at 12 AM Aden Time
Aden (South24)
European forces operating under the Aspides maritime protection mission announced the destruction of three Houthi ballistic missiles, a boat, and a drone within 24 hours in the southern Red Sea.
“On March 20, a French ship, while providing close protection for commercial shipping in the southern Red Sea, intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles,” the Aspides mission page posted on X.
On March 20, while conducting close protection under @EUNAVFORASPIDES in Red Sea, the embarked helicopter of a French destroyer shot down a Houthi UAV threatening the commercial navigation.
— EUNAVFOR ASPIDES (@EUNAVFORASPIDES) March 20, 2024
@hndgspio @MarineNationale @FFEAU_ALINDIEN @EtatMajorFR #shieldingfreedomofnavigation pic.twitter.com/0vyaMLClNS
The X post noted that the missiles "posed a direct threat to European forces."
Also today, the German frigate ‘Hessen’ engaged and destroyed a Houthi drone boat while providing direct protection to a merchant vessel of EU interests in the southern Red Sea.
On March 21, a @EUNAVFORASPIDES ship (FGS HESSEN) while providing close protection to a merchant vessel of EU interests in Southern Red Sea, engaged and destroyed a Houthi USV, posing a direct threat to the freedom of navigation.
— EUNAVFOR ASPIDES (@EUNAVFORASPIDES) March 21, 2024
@deutschemarine#shieldingfreedomofnavigation pic.twitter.com/5ruGLu3rPd
Yesterday, the Aspides mission said that a French helicopter destroyed a Houthi attack drone that was threatening commercial navigation in the southern Red Sea.
On February 19, the European mission Aspides began protecting commercial ships from Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. So far, the Houthis have not announced any attacks specifically targeting European warships.
However, the leader of the Houthis, Abdulmalik Al-Houthi, said “We have future plans for more effective strikes against our enemies”, though he did not specify which enemies he was referring to.
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