The French Ministry of Defense announced the downing of 4 drones that were flying towards a French frigate located in the Gulf of Aden, which was assisted by French fighters in neutralizing them. In February, the European Union officially launched the maritime campaign "Aspide" to secure shipping movements in the Red Sea in response to Houthi attacks in Yemen on ships heading to Israel.
The French Ministry of Defense stated on its website: "On the morning of March 9, 2024, while the French frigate was conducting patrol operations in the Gulf of Aden as part of the European 'Aspide' operation, four drones were detected heading towards it. The frigate and French fighters engaged and destroyed the drones as part of a legitimate self-defense action."
The statement added: "These defensive actions contributed directly to the protection of the cargo ship True Confidence, which had previously been attacked, as well as the protection of other commercial vessels passing through the area." The U.S. Central Command had previously announced that three sailors were killed and four others were injured as a result of a Houthi missile attack on the cargo ship True Confidence in the Gulf of Aden.
