Houthi drones attack French frigate in the Red Sea

11 December, 2023 Launch of the Aster 15 anti-aircraft missile during exercises. Photo credits: France Navy The French Languedoc frigate (D653) shot down two drones that were targeting the ship while patrolling in the Red Sea.

The French edition France24 reported on this. While providing protection for civilian shipping in the Red Sea, the ship was attacked by two attack drones launched by the Houthis from Yemen. The two targets were neutralized using Aster 15 surface-to-air missiles that destroyed the air targets.

This was the first combat use of this type of missile in a real combat situation.

Official report on the downing of two Houthi drones. Photo credits: the French Navy

The drone interceptions happened at 8:30 p.m. local time and 10:30 p.m. GMT, 110 kilometres (68 miles) from the Yemeni coast and the port of Hudaydah, which is under rebel control, the post said.

The deployment of the frigate is part of the European initiative to ensure safe navigation in the region and combat piracy and missile attacks on civilian vessels.

Besides France, the U.S. Navy, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces, and the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom have deployed their ships in the region. This is not the first time the Yemeni Houthis have attempted to attack warships of other countries, as on December 3, 2023, the US destroyer USS Carney shot down two kamikaze drones that were targeting the ship.

Previously, the USS Carney destroyer shot down four cruise missiles and 15 kamikaze drones launched from Yemen during a patrol.

The location of the interception of two kamikaze drones by a French frigate. Photo from the network

As Militarnyi previously reported, an MQ-9 drone of the US Air Force was shot down by the Houthis over the Red Sea during a reconnaissance flight. The incident occurred on November 8, 2023, during a reconnaissance flight to identify the locations of cruise and ballistic missile launches towards Israel.

The United States is increasing its presence in the region due to attacks by pro-Iranian groups on US facilities in Syria and Iraq.

Since October 17, pro-Iranian forces have launched 40 missile attacks, including 22 in Iraq and 18 in Syria.