China News Service, February 29 (Xinhua) Comprehensive foreign media reported on the 28th that recently, a German Navy frigate sent to the Red Sea to protect merchant ships was revealed to have mistakenly fired at a US military "Reaper" drone, almost shooting down the drone.
According to Agence France-Presse, the German Ministry of Defense confirmed that a drone incident involving an allied country occurred on the 26th local time, but did not specify which country.
According to reports, German Defense Minister Pistorius said during a visit to the German town of Oberweichtach that the Hesse frigate opened fire after "unsuccessfully" identifying an unknown drone. But added that the target "did not hit".
He also said the drone was later confirmed to be a "reconnaissance drone."
Agence France-Presse quoted Der Spiegel as reporting that the frigate fired two missiles at the drone, but both fell into the sea due to "technical defects."
"Der Spiegel" also pointed out that the drone that was almost shot down was an American "Reaper" drone.
The drone's operations in the area may have been "part of a U.S. counterterrorism mission" and had nothing to do with the Red Sea mission.
According to reports, the frigate "Hesse" arrived in the Red Sea region last weekend as part of an EU mission to help ensure international shipping in the Red Sea from attacks by Yemen's Houthi armed forces.
The German military stated on February 28 that the frigate successfully defeated an attack by the Houthi armed forces on the evening of the 27th and shot down two drones.
A German government spokesman also said in the briefing that "this may be the most dangerous deployment of the German navy in many years."