French warship destroys Yemeni Houthi drone targeting oil tanker in Red Sea

A French frigate has destroyed a Yemeni drone that was threatening a Norwegian oil tanker in the Red Sea. Yemen’s Houthis said they carried out a military operation against the tanker as part of its strategy to target ships heading to Israeli ports in a protest over Israel’s bombardment of Gaza.

The frigate Languedoc in the Strait of Hormuz, between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, 28 May 2021. © Marine Nationale via AP

France’s FREMM Languedoc frigate intercepted and destroyed a drone that had been threatening the Norwegian oil tanker Strinda, the French defence ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

French ship targeted

It said the attack had taken place on Monday evening and had set a fire on board the tanker.

The tanker, which was able to continue moving under its own power, was escorted away from danger by a US Navy ship.

Yemen's Houthis said Tuesday that they carried out a military operation against the Strinda that was delivering crude oil to an Israeli terminal.

But tracking data showed that the tanker was carrying palm oil for biofuels from Malaysia, and was headed for Venice, Italy.

The tanker's owner, Mowinckel Chemical Tankers, said the tanker was carrying biofuel from South East Asia to Italy.

Once the ship was out of danger, it said that it had entered into a tentative contract to ship cargo out of Israel's Ashdod port in January, with the option to back out of the deal "if such a worsening of the situation would take place".

Drone strikes

The incident comes a day after the frigate shot down two drones it said were shot at it from Yemen.

The Houthis are one of several groups in the Iran-aligned "Axis of Resistance" that have been taking aim at Israeli and US targets since their Palestinian ally Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October, sparking retaliatory bombing of the Gaza strip.

The Houthis have attacked several ships in the Red Sea in recent weeks, and on Saturday they warned they would target all ships heading to Israel until Israel allows entry of food and medical aid into Gaza.

The Houthis have also fired drones and missiles at Israel, which is more than 1,000 miles from their seat of power in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa.

(with reuters)