A French destroyer, part of the Red Sea patrol force, recently targeted a missile that was approaching a Belgian minehunter. The minehunter, named Primula, was passing through the Bab el-Mandeb area and regions controlled by the Houthis in Yemen when the missile was detected.
Incident Details
Published reports indicate that this incident occurred in mid-October and has been confirmed by the Belgian Ministry of Defense. The Primula minehunter, which was commissioned in 1990, was deployed to the area as part of potential European Union efforts in the Strait of Hormuz. Belgian sources stated that this 51.5-meter vessel lacks modern missile defense capabilities and was moving alongside an unspecified French destroyer.
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Analysis and Reactions
Belgian sources believe that targeting the minehunter was likely the result of a warning shot, a show of force, or an accidental shot that may have been aimed at Saudi forces. It also appears that this missile was a ballistic missile rather than an anti-ship missile. The Houthis have not claimed responsibility for targeting this vessel, and reports indicate that the French are investigating the incident.
This new report comes just two weeks after a report of a drone approaching a container ship belonging to CMA CGM. The Languedoc destroyer decided to target the drone after it was detected. The Houthis are currently focusing on Saudi ground forces and their positions in Saudi Arabia, and although they have stated that they will not attack other ships, they have recently targeted tankers linked to Saudi Arabia.
The situation in the region remains stable, and more commercial vessels have returned to this route. However, analysts warn that the situation in the area remains unstable and attacks could easily resume.
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