The Houthis announced the targeting of 48 ships since the start of their attacks in the Red Sea (Reuters)

German officials said that a German warship shot down, on Tuesday evening, two drones belonging to the Houthi group in the Red Sea.

The German army announced that a warship sent to help secure navigation in the Red Sea was able to confront "an attack carried out by the Houthi rebels" and described the mission as a success.

The army said in a statement published on the X platform, “No injuries were recorded among people on board the frigate, nor was any damage to property recorded.”

For his part, the Ministry of Defense spokesman said - in a press conference - that the Hessen frigate, which was sent to the region earlier this month, was the one that shot down the two drones within 20 minutes.

It is noteworthy that Germany sent the ship Hessen to the region, as part of the military mission that the European Union launched on February 19 to protect international navigation in the Red Sea from Houthi attacks.

The European Union said that its force's activity will be along the maritime lines of communication in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Strait of Hormuz, and international waters in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, and Gulf of Oman.

He explained in a statement that his military mission would provide information on the maritime situation, accompany ships, and protect them from possible attacks.

Last week, the Houthis responded to the European announcement by threatening to respond to “any European foolishness” to protect Israeli ships in the Red Sea.

The leader of the Houthis, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, announced last Thursday that his group is heading to escalate its attacks in exchange for the Israeli escalation in the Gaza Strip. He said, “The operations in support of Gaza in the Red and Arab Bahrain, the Gulf of Aden, and the Bab al-Mandab Strait are continuing, and we are heading towards escalation,” noting that the number of targeted ships reached 48.

Since the escalation of the war on Gaza, the Houthis have been targeting ships owned or operated by Israeli companies, or transporting goods to and from Israel when they pass through the Red Sea, in support of the Palestinian resistance.

This prompted many major shipping companies to avoid sailing through the Red Sea.

Source: Al Jazeera + agencies