Britain says a Royal Navy ship has shot down an attack drone over the Red Sea

The United Kingdom has reported that a Royal Navy warship successfully intercepted and destroyed a suspected attack drone in the Red Sea. This action was taken to protect commercial ships in the region. The drone was neutralized using a Sea Viper missile fired from the HMS Diamond. Notably, this incident marks the first time the Royal Navy has engaged and shot down an aerial threat in a combat situation since the Gulf War in 1991.

British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps emphasized that such attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, attributed to Yemen’s Houthi rebels, pose a direct threat to both international commerce and maritime security. The United Kingdom is committed to countering these attacks to ensure the uninterrupted flow of global trade.

It’s worth noting that global shipping has faced increased risks during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, with both groups receiving support from Iran. The Houthi rebels have been responsible for several attacks on ships in the Red Sea, including the use of drones and missiles against Israel. Recently, there were missile strikes on three commercial ships in the Red Sea originating from Houthi-controlled Yemen. A U.S. warship also reported shooting down three drones during that incident.

In response to these escalating threats, Maersk, the world’s largest shipping company, has advised its vessels intending to pass through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea to temporarily halt their journeys following a missile attack on a Liberian-flagged cargo ship. The UK’s deployment of HMS Diamond to the region, along with vessels from the United States, France, and other nations, serves as a deterrent to these maritime threats.

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More about Red Sea Drone Interception

• BBC News – Royal Navy ship shoots down attack drone in Red Sea
• The Guardian – UK warship shoots down drone targeting commercial ships in Red Sea
• Reuters – Royal Navy ship shoots down drone in Red Sea
• The Washington Post – UK warship fires missile to destroy drone targeting merchant shipping in the Red Sea
• Maersk – Important Notice on Red Sea
• The New York Times – Houthi Rebels Strike Ships in the Red Sea, U.S. Navy Says