French Navy frigate Languedoc. (The Ministry of Armed Forces of France)
A French Navy warship in the Red Sea shot down two drones coming “straight toward it” from a Yemeni port city held by the Houthis (Ansar Allah), the French military announced on December 10.
“The interception and destruction of these two identified threats” were carried out late on December 9 by the frigate Languedoc, the general staff said in a press release.
The interceptions happened at 2030 GMT and 2230 GMT, it added, and were 110 kilometers from the Yemeni coast. The statement does not say whether the French Navy assesses its frigate was the target of the two drones.
The interception took place just a few hours after the Houthis announced that they will start targeting any ship passing through the Red Sea en route to Israel, regardless of whether the ship’s ownership is linked to the country, in response to the Israeli blockade on the Palestinian Gaza Strip.
The Houthis, who control a large part of Yemen and possess a large arsenal of missiles and drones, are part of the so-called “Axis of Resistance” which is backed by Iran and opposes Israel.
The group has fired several missiles and drones at the southernmost Israeli city of Eilat since the beginning of the Israeli war on Gaza. It has also assaulted a number of ships, thus far targeting vessels allegedly owned by Israeli firms or with ties to Israeli businessmen.
In recent weeks, United States Navy warships have shot down a number of missiles and drones headed their way that are believed to have been launched by the Houthis from Yemen. The last interception was the first to be carried out by a French warship since the war broke out in Gaza.
The Houthis are yet to comment on the French military’s statement. It is highly unlikely that the group was attempting to target the French warship. France will be risking a confrontation with the Houthis if its Navy was acting in support of Israel.
