German naval frigate nearly shoots down drone of allied country over Red Sea

By Erbil Basay

BERLIN (AA) - A German naval frigate sent to the Red Sea to protect merchant ships from attacks by Yemen’s Houthi group nearly shot down a drone belonging to an allied country by accident, the Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

Ministry spokesman Michael Stempfle told a press conference in Berlin that on Monday, the Hesse frigate observed a drone in the area and could not determine whether it was dangerous or not.

Stempfle said that information was requested from allied countries on the drone, but it could not be determined who it belonged to.

He added that the frigate opened fire on the drone but was "unsuccessful."

“The case was resolved when it turned out that it wasn't a hostile drone, which only became clear in hindsight," he said.

He did not say which country the drone belonged to.

It was later announced that the frigate shot down two drones on Wednesday belonging to the Houthis in the space of 15 minutes.