French Frigate Downs Missile Near Belgian Minehunter in Red Sea Hotspot
A French warship intercepted a ballistic missile near the Belgian minehunter BNS Primula in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on.
A French Navy frigate intercepted a ballistic missile in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on October 13 while escorting the Belgian minehunter BNS Primula, the French Armed Forces General Staff confirmed on October 27. The incident occurred without casualties or damage to either vessel, though authorities have not determined the missile’s intended target.
The French military described the interception as a defensive action but could not confirm whether the missile was aimed at the Belgian ship, the frigate itself, or another vessel in the area. As of October 26, no group had claimed responsibility for the launch, and neither France nor Belgium has attributed the attack to Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical chokepoint between Yemen and the African nations of Djibouti and Eritrea, links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. The waterway remains a key route for global maritime trade, particularly for ships traveling between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
Belgian Minehunter’s Deployment Amid Regional Tensions: bab el-mandeb strait
The BNS Primula, a Tripartite-class minehunter based in Zeebrugge, was operating south of the Arabian Peninsula at the time of the incident. The vessel departed Belgium on May 28 alongside the Dutch minehunter HNLMS Willemstad to join NATO’s Standing Mine Countermeasures Group Two in the Mediterranean. Belgian officials have stated the deployment could support future mine clearance operations in the Strait of Hormuz, pending government approval.
Belgian Navy commander Tanguy Botman previously noted the vessel’s limitations in hostile environments, emphasizing its reliance on escort protection. During the October 13 incident, the French frigate provided security for the minehunter when the missile was intercepted.
French Naval Activity in the Region
Between October 8 and 15, a French FREMM-class frigate operated in the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb, and Gulf of Aden as part of the European Union’s Operation Aspides. While the French military has not confirmed whether this vessel was involved in the missile interception, frigates of this class are equipped with Aster surface-to-air missiles, capable of intercepting ballistic threats.
The incident follows another defensive action in the strait. On the night of October 1-2, the French frigate Languedoc shot down a drone using its main gun while escorting the container ship CMA CGM Champs Elysées. No evidence links the two events.
French authorities have not disclosed which frigate intercepted the missile on October 13 or what weapon system was used. Investigations continue into the missile’s origin and intended target, as maritime security remains a priority in the strategically vital waterway.
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