SpaceWar.com - Your World At War
Italy's navy downs drone headed for Red Sea merchant vessel: ministry
Rome, April 29 (AFP) Apr 29, 2024
An Italian navy frigate shot down a drone in the Red Sea headed in the direction of an escorted merchant ship, Italy's defence ministry said Monday.

The Virginio Fasan frigate, which was protecting a European commercial freighter, shot down the drone Monday morning near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, said the ministry in a press release.

"The drone, with similar characteristics to those already used in previous Huthi attacks, was about 5 kilometres from the Italian ship, in the direction of the escorted merchant ship," it said.

The ministry said "complex attacks with missiles and drones" had earlier occurred in the morning, but they "were foiled thanks to evasive manoeuvres carried out by the merchant ship", following instructions from the naval frigate.

A missile that exploded in the water near the escorted ship caused only minor surface damage, it said, adding that the Fasan and merchant ship were "continuing as planned on their route".

Italy has operational command of the "Aspides" mission, launched by the EU in February to protect merchant vessels transiting the vital Red Sea trade route from attacks by Iran-backed Huthis.

The Huthis, who have vowed to target Israeli, British and American ships, as well as vessels heading to Israeli ports, say their campaign is intended to signal solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.


ADVERTISEMENT




Space News from SpaceDaily.com
Tianwen 2 captures Earth and moon from deep space on asteroid mission
Venus atmosphere mapped over a decade using Himawari satellite data
China launches international association to boost global access to deep space research

24/7 Energy News Coverage
A New Alloy is Enabling Ultra-Stable Structures Needed for Exoplanet Discovery
GE Vernova and Fortum take steps toward Nordic deployment of BWRX-300 SMRs
Asian markets mixed as trade deal cut-off looms

Military Space News, Nuclear Weapons, Missile Defense
Iran supends cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog
Rocket Lab clears key design milestone for SDA low Earth orbit constellation
US halting some shipments of military aid to Ukraine

24/7 News Coverage
Relief coming for Europe after brutal heatwave
Japan updates 'megaquake' preparedness plan
Fiji says would not welcome China military presence in Pacific



All rights reserved. Copyright Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.