Britain Says Royal Navy Ship Shot Down Attack Drone Over Red Sea

HMS Diamond off the coast of Scotland - Photo source: AP (Association Press)

A suspected attack drone targeting commercial ships in the Red Sea was successfully shot down by a Royal Navy warship, HMS Diamond, according to Britain's defense secretary, Grant Shapps. The vessel used a Sea Viper missile to destroy the drone, marking the first time the Royal Navy has engaged an aerial target in combat since the 1991 Gulf War. Shapps emphasized the direct threat posed by Houthi rebels' attacks on merchant shipping to international commerce and maritime security.

Source: Royal Navy via AP

He stated that the UK remains committed to defending against such attacks to ensure the free flow of global trade. The incident is part of a broader context where global shipping has become a target amid conflicts, such as the war between Israel and Hamas, both backed by Iran. Recent missile attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea prompted the world's largest shipping company, Maersk, to advise vessels to pause their journeys through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The Royal Navy's deployment, including HMS Diamond, aims to deter such threats in collaboration with vessels from the US, France, and other regional nations.