Germany shoots down 2 Houthi drones in Red Sea

COLOGNE, Germany

Germany has shot down two drones launched by Yemen’s Houthi group, according to local media on Wednesday.

The two Houthi drones were targeted late Tuesday from the German naval frigate Hessen, deployed to Red Sea as part of an EU naval mission Aspides to protect shipping.

The German news agency DPA reported that it was the German Navy's first use of live weapons in the operation that began last week and is considered the "most dangerous naval mission" in the history of the German Armed Forces.

"On Feb. 27, between the hours of 9:50 p.m. and 10:55 p.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. aircraft and a coalition warship shot down five Iranian-backed Houthi one-way attack (OWA) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the Red Sea," US Central Command (CENTCOM) said early Wednesday.

Yemen’s Houthi group has been targeting cargo ships in the Red Sea owned or operated by Israeli companies or transporting goods to and from Israel in solidarity with the Gaza Strip, which has been under an Israeli onslaught since Oct. 7.

The Red Sea is one of the world's most frequently used sea routes for oil and fuel shipments.