An Italian navy ship shot down a drone fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels and targeting a European cargo, the Italian defence ministry said in a statement on Monday.
The Italian "Fasan" frigate and the cargo it was escorting are proceeding southwards on their planned route to exit from the Red Sea © Mena Today
An Italian navy ship shot down a drone fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels and targeting a European cargo, the Italian defence ministry said in a statement on Monday.
The drone was intercepted "in the late morning" near the Bab-el-Mandeb strait at the southern end of the Red Sea, the ministry said.
It was flying toward the cargo ship and taken down while it was 5 kilometres (3.11 miles) away. It was similar to other drones used in previous Houthi attacks, it said.
The cargo was targeted by other drones and missiles, with one missile exploding in water near the commercial vessel, causing only superficial damage, the ministry said.
The Italian "Fasan" frigate and the cargo it was escorting are proceeding southwards on their planned route to exit from the Red Sea, the statement added.
Italy is part of an EU naval mission, dubbed Eunavfor Aspides, launched in February to protect shipping in the Red Sea, a major trade route.
Iran-backed Houthi militants have repeatedly launched drones and missiles against international commercial shipping in the area, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians against Israel's military actions in Gaza.
Reporting by Alvise Armellini
Hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough in the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran receded as a new week began, with talks aimed at ending the two-month conflict at a standstill and both Tehran and Washington showing little willingness to soften their terms.
President Donald Trump cancelled a trip to Islamabad by two U.S. envoys to meet Iran war mediator Pakistan on Saturday after Iran's foreign minister flew out of the Pakistani capital following talks, dealing a new setback to peace prospects.
America has to stop lying to itself about Iran. The United States is not being dragged into a war because of Israel.
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