On Monday, a German warship reportedly fired twice at a U.S. reconnaissance drone operating near the Yemeni coast, but failed twice, according to media reports.
The German frigate Hesse, sent to the Red Sea as part of a European Union operation to protect international shipping in the Red Sea from Houthi attacks, mistakenly targeted a German MQ-9 Reaper. der spiegel and AFP report. According to reports, both missiles failed due to unspecified technical defects, but US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces are leading a separate multinational coalition to repel the Houthi attack.
“We are aware of the report and are investigating the matter. CENTCOM is working closely with the EU and Operation Aspides to ensure safe collision avoidance of our airspace,” a US defense official said. told the Daily Caller News Foundation. (Related article: US and UK launch attacks on 18 Houthi targets on sunken merchant ships in the Red Sea)
The Hessian arrived in the area on February 24 in support of Operation Aspides. according to in a statement on social media. Separately, the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower and several destroyers are patrolling the seas to defend against the Houthis' seemingly relentless drone and missile attacks on international shipping and naval vessels.
“Operation Prosperity Guardian and Operation Aspides will continue to operate in parallel as we continue our mission to ensure freedom of navigation,” a defense spokesperson said.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on Wednesday that the state of Hesse opened fire after failing to identify the suspicious drone, but the effort “ended in failure,” according to AFP news agency. The target turned out to be a “reconnaissance drone” but “did not hit,” he added.
According to CNN, the U.S. MQ-9 drone operates in international airspace over the Red Sea, primarily for intelligence-gathering purposes. The Houthis have shot down two MQ-9s since November in connection with their opposition to US aid to Israel.
german army Confirmed Germany became the fourth country to confirm engagement with the Houthis after shooting down two Houthi drones in a social media post.
A ministry spokesperson said Hesse shot down two unidirectional attack drones within 20 minutes of each launch. according to to Reuters. He did not say whether the target was a German frigate or another ship.
“They were recognized by radar systems and had different ranges. That's why two different weapons were used,” a ministry spokesperson said, Reuters reported.
“This is…perhaps the most dangerous deployment of the German Navy in many years,” the spokesperson said.
Hesse state captured another unidentified drone on Monday but failed to shoot it down, Reuters reported, a spokesperson said, possibly referring to the MQ-9 accident.
“Hesse'' an.
Auf der Fregatte entstanden keine personenoder Sachschäden.— Bundeswehr im Einsatz (@Bw_Einsatz) February 27, 2024
Also on Monday, CENTCOM forces destroyed three drone boats believed to be loaded with explosives and a suicide drone in “self-defense,” CENTCOM said in a statement. statementtwo anti-ship cruise missiles are also being transported.
“The USV and ASCM weapons are ready to launch towards the Red Sea, and the UAV has crossed the Red Sea,” the statement said.
On Tuesday, CENTCOM forces shot down five one-way attack drones launched by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists within about an hour, the military said. Said said in a statement on social media.
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