Yemen's Houthi rebels have repeatedly vowed to attack any ships it believes are aiding Israel during the ongoing fighting in Gaza.
A senior said the French had successfully repelled an attack on one of its missile frigates in the Red Sea. The military noted that the attempted drone attack was launched from areas controlled by the Houthis in Yemen.
Speaking to lawmakers in the French Senate on Monday, the Minister of the Armed Forces, Sebastien Lecornu, provided an update on the failed attack last weekend, saying that all enemy aircraft had been shot down by guided munitions.
"Two drones from Yemen deliberately aimed at our multi-mission frigate Languedoc, which was on patrol in the Red Sea at the time," he saidHe said. "These are Aster 15 missiles, which were launched in self-defense and are designed to destroy two drones. This was done [successfully], thus protecting the ship and crew. ”
Although they have so far not named the Houthi rebel group, the military previously said the drones were launched from the coast of Hodeidah, Yemen, an area controlled by armed factions and officially known as "Ansar Allah" that has ruled parts of the Middle Eastern country since the 2014 uprising.
The Houthis, who have repeatedly vowed to attack any vessel that the group believes have aided Israel during recent clashes with Palestinian militants in Gaza, have attacked, sometimes seized, a number of commercial and military vessels crossing the Red Sea.
Earlier this month, the U.S. said one of its ships had been attacked in the area, but did not name the Houthis. Despite this, the group later claimed responsibility for the incident and promised to continue such operations"Until Israel ceases its aggression against our staunch brothers in the Gaza Strip".
The Houthis also previously released dramatic footage showing militants hijacking a cargo ship in the Red Sea, with commandos landing on board and pointing guns at the crew. The group claimed that the ship had links to Israel, although West Jerusalem later denied any direct connection to the ship.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Houthi spokeswoman Yahya Sare reiterated that the group would "block the passage of ships bound for the Zionist entity" and demanded more aid for Palestinians who have been bombed by Israel.
The chairman of the Israeli committee, Chachi Hanegbi, accused the Yemeni rebel group"Siege at sea,and said that if other countries do not do so, Israel will take action. He added that Israel had urged the United States and the European Union to take countermeasures, but it was not clear what exactly this demand would be.