France says it shot down two drones fired 'from Yemen'

The French Ministry of Defense announced that its warships intercepted and destroyed two drones in the Red Sea. According to Reuters, the French Ministry of Defense stated that these drone attacks originated from Yemen. The statement from the Ministry of Defense reads: 'During the night of February 19 to 20, French multi-mission frigates detected several drone attacks originating from Yemen in their patrol areas in the Gulf of Aden and southern Red Sea.' The statement further noted that two drones were targeted and destroyed. Earlier, on February 30, 27 EU countries agreed to a mission to protect shipping in the Red Sea amid rising concerns that Houthi attacks could harm their economies and increase inflation. In this context, the frigate Hessen has departed from the German port of Wilhelmshaven on a mission from the EU to the Red Sea. Following Houthi attacks on commercial vessels belonging to the United States in the Red Sea, the EU began a maritime mission on Monday, February 30, to protect commercial and tourist vessels in the region. The EU has initiated a mission to protect shipping in the Red Sea. The Houthis claimed to have shot down an 'American drone.'