The incident, described as a case of friendly fire, involved the German frigate "Hesse" mistakenly targeting the US drone. According to Der Spiegel, the warship launched two missiles, both of which failed to hit their target and crashed into the sea due to "a technical defect."

The "Hesse" was deployed to the Red Sea earlier in February to deter Yemen's attacks on pro-Israel vessels. Yemen's armed forces have been targeting Israeli ships in the Red Sea in response to the ongoing Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius confirmed the incident, stating that efforts to identify the "unknown drone" proved unsuccessful before the firing. He clarified that the target, later identified as a "reconnaissance drone," was not harmed.

Reports suggest the targeted drone was not affiliated with the US-led naval coalition operating in the Red Sea, which also aims to counter Yemeni operations. Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper highlighted that the presence of American combat drones in the region, independent of the US-led coalition, is "common knowledge."

Der Spiegel further emphasized concerns raised by military officials regarding the incident. The event, they believe, underscores the need for "improved coordination" between various allied forces operating in the region around Yemen. (ILKHA)