Amid escalating tensions in the waters off Yemen, a significant development has emerged as a Greek warship, the frigate HS Hydra (F-452) actively participated in safeguarding commercial vessels in the area, marking a pivotal moment since the onset of Houthi rebel attacks.
The European Union’s EUNAVFOR Aspides operation disclosed on Wednesday that the frigate Hydra was compelled to take action, opening fire on two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) earlier in the day. These UAVs posed a clear and present danger to the freedom of navigation in the region, necessitating a swift response.
From what is learned, the Hellenic Navy vessel was navigating in the Gulf of Aden and allegedly shot down drones using her cannon.
Thankfully, the proactive measures undertaken by the Hydra effectively averted any harm to seafarers and merchant shipping, underscoring the critical role of such interventions in safeguarding maritime activities.
Preceding this engagement, another EUNAVFOR vessel, the Italian destroyer Caio Duilio, had also sprung into action, fending off an undisclosed number of UAVs originating from Houthi-controlled territories.
In addition to deploying the Hydra to the Red Sea, Greece is serving as the host nation for operation EUNAVFOR Aspides, which has recently commenced operations with its headquarters situated in the central Greek city of Larissa.