HMS Diamond destroys Houthi rebel attack drone that had been targeting vessel in Red Sea

HMS Diamond has shot down a Houthi attack drone that had been targeting the ship in the Red Sea.

The  Ministry of Defence said the drone had been destroyed by the vessel's Sea Viper missile system, with no injuries or damage reported to Diamond or her crew.

"These intolerable and illegal attacks are completely unacceptable and it is our duty to protect the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea," the MOD said.

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Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said the UK remained "undaunted" after the latest round of Houthi attacks.  

In a post on X, Mr Shapps wrote: "Our commitment to protect innocent lives and the freedom of navigation is absolutely unwavering."

Prior to the latest attack, the Royal Air Force had destroyed several Houthi rebel targets in Yemen.

This was a second round of strikes against military targets, following strikes earlier this month where the RAF and US hit 60 targets across 16 locations in Yemen during overnight raids.

Houthi rebels have been attacking merchant ships in the Red Sea, causing chaos to international trade.

HMS Diamond, a Type 45 air-defence guided missile destroyer is in the Red Sea as part of Operation Prosperity Guardian.

Prosperity Guardian is a multi-national operation which was launched in December to deter attacks on commercial vessels in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. 

Previous Houthi strikes had been thwarted by missiles fired from UK, US and French warships that are part of the operation, which has been joined by more than 20 countries.