Red Sea: The French Navy intercepted a new drone launched from Yemen

The French Navy intercepted a new drone launched from Yemen into the Red Sea, the French General Staff said on Wednesday. “French frigate helicopter interception of an aerial drone coming from Yemen threatening civilian maritime traffic in the Red Sea,” the French army wrote on Platform X, posting images of the drone flying over the water towards what appears to be an oil tanker.

The interception was carried out by helicopter aboard a French frigate stationed in the region as part of an EU mission called Aspides (“shield” in ancient Greek), launched on February 19 to protect shipping from trade threatened by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

International coalition

Since Israel’s response to Hamas, the militia has stepped up attacks on cargo ships forced to travel to the Yemeni coast to use the Suez Canal.

France deployed two warships as part of the Aspid mission: the frigates Languedoc and Alsace. The French army did not specify which frigate intercepted the drone or indicate the exact location of the incident. The French navy has intercepted drones likely launched by the Houthis on several occasions, most notably in December and February last year.

At the same time, the United States and a coalition of about twenty countries launched their own mission with similar goals called Guardians of Prosperity.