On Feb. 27, the German frigate Hessen took out the two drones within a remarkable 20-minute time frame after each launch. The vessel was deployed to the region earlier in February amid attacks on Red Sea shipping by the Tehran-backed Houthis, formally the Ansar Allah movement. While German defense officials have confirmed the drone interceptions, they have refrained from providing details about the specific targets of the projectiles.
A spokesperson for Berlin emphasized the gravity of the situation at the Red Sea, describing it as "probably the most dangerous deployment of the German Navy for many, many years." This underscores the severity of the maritime challenges posed by the Houthi insurgency in the region, which the rebels describe as acts of solidarity with Palestine against Israel's genocide of the Gazan population.
But prior to its successful destruction of two Houthi drones, the Hessen had encountered a setback after it mistakenly targeted an American MQ-9 Reapeer combat drone. In an online statement, the Bundeswehr – Germany's armed forces – acknowledged the incident, stating that the Hessen engaged a drone lacking a "friend or foe" identification.
After coordinating with allied units, the warship fired multiple missiles at the drone. However, a technical error in the radar system prevented the missiles from reaching the target, and the error was promptly identified and fixed. Meanwhile, Washington also confirmed the incident and said it is currently under investigation.
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German military news site Augen geradeaus reported that the Hessen fired two SM-2 missile interceptors, but did not hit anything. Had the warship hit the Reaper drone, it would have marked the third time since early November 2023 that the U.S. military lost a drone unit. The Houthis had previously destroyed two MQ-9s.
Houthi attacks on ships prompt international responses
This development comes at a time when shipping risks have heightened due to repeated strikes by the Iran-aligned Houthis in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait since November.
The unrest in the Red Sea has prompted broader international responses, with the U.S. and British forces conducting airstrikes on Houthi facilities. However, these efforts have thus far failed to curb the ongoing attacks, raising concerns about the safety of international shipping in the region. (Related: British merchant ship abandoned in Red Sea following Houthi missile strike.)
Meanwhile, France, Greece, and Italy have committed to participating in an EU mission designed to protect commercial ships in the area. Under EU command, three vessels will be tasked with intercepting attacks and safeguarding shipping routes. Notably, the mission will not involve strikes against the Houthis on land.
In response to the attacks and ongoing tensions, the Houthis have formally notified shipping officials and insurers of a ban on vessels linked to Israel, the U.S., and Britain from sailing in the surrounding seas. This ban, coupled with the continued assaults, raises concerns about an expansion of areas deemed unsafe for sea navigation. Such developments could further constrain insurance capacity and lead to increased premiums for vessels operating in or near these high-risk zones.
As international efforts to address the situation intensify, the evolving dynamics in the Red Sea underscore the complex geopolitical and security challenges faced by naval forces and shipping interests in the region.
Watch this video of the Hessen mistaking the American MQ-9 reaper for a Houthi drone.
This video is from the Vampire Slayer channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
West steps up activities in Red Sea as Iran warns against U.S. adventurism.
U.S. warship in the Red Sea shoots down attack drones fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
U.S. destroyer intercepts drone, missile attacks launched by Houthi rebels toward Israel.
U.S. naval coalition’s efforts to defend Red Sea shipping against Houthi attacks off to rocky start.
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