Yemen’s Houthis launched a drone attack on a British warship which was “successfully repelled”, the UK Ministry of Defence has said.

The ministry said HMS Diamond used its Sea Viper missile system to shoot down a drone “illegally targeting” it, with no injuries or damage reported.

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“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.

“We want to thank the brave crew of HMS Diamond for their service to defend British and international interests.”

Grant Shapps also said on X: “The UK remains undaunted after yesterday’s illegal attack on HMS Diamond by the Iranian backed Houthis.

“Our commitment to protect innocent lives and the freedom of navigation is absolutely unwavering.”

HMS Diamond is a Daring-Class Type 45 air defence destroyer which joined the fleet in 2011.

On 10 January, Mr Shapps shared the HMS Diamond shot down seven drones in the Houthis’ largest attack to date.

The US, who also repelled the attack, said that marked was the 26th Houthi attack on commercial shipping since 19 November.

Military analyst

There is nothing much to see on a Type 45 before it goes into action.

It’s a boxy-looking ship and apart from the standard 4.5in naval gun near the bow and a Wildcar helicopter on the stern, the rest of it looks to be a series of containers.

But when Sea Viper is fired, it seems to explode out of the deck, vertically upwards, before it sets course towards whatever target it’s taking on.

And it doesn’t miss.

Read analysis in full here

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