Italy’s Defense Staff announced on Tuesday that an Italian military vessel, part of the European Union’s naval mission in the Red Sea, successfully intercepted and destroyed two drones.
The vessel in question, the Italian Navy’s “Caio Duilio” destroyer, was involved in what authorities described as acts of self-defense, although no further details were provided.
This incident follows a similar engagement earlier this month when the same ship shot down another drone.
The EU’s mission in the Red Sea, codenamed Aspides, was initiated in February with the primary objective of safeguarding the vital maritime trade route against drone and missile attacks orchestrated by Yemen’s Houthi militia.
The Houthis claim these actions are in retaliation to Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
In a related development, one of the United Kingdom’s most advanced warships, HMS Diamond, is being redeployed to the Red Sea to bolster efforts in protecting global shipping from Houthi attacks.
HMS Diamond will relieve HMS Richmond, which joined Operation Prosperity Guardian—a multinational coalition aimed at safeguarding commercial shipping from Houthi threats—in February.
