Protection to a commercial ship in the Gulf of Aden, from an attack by Unmanned Vehicles (drones) was provided today in the early hours of the morning by the FISH frigate.

Specifically, according to military sources, on Sunday July 7, 2024 and in the early hours of the morning in the Gulf of Aden, the FISH Frigate as part of the EUNAVFOR ASPIDES operation, providing protection to a commercial ship, using for the first time both the antidrone system and the gun, engaged four Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in accordance with the current Rules of Engagement, two of which were shot down and the others diverted. As the same sources point out, the Frigate continues its mission normally.

It is noted that in the first quarter of the business there had been an engagement in the Gulf of Aden and the frigate “Hydra”. In the first case he had forced drones to change course and in the second he shot down a drone.

Nikos Dendias and Joseph Borel were found yesterday on the “PSARA” frigate, in a port of Djibouti

The “PSARA” frigate, which participates in the European operation ASPIDES (EUNAVFOR ASPIDES), was visited yesterday in the port of Djibouti by the Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borel where they were briefed by her skipper about her mission.

This morning I visited HS “PSARA” with High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President of the @EU_Commission @JosepBorrellFChief of the @hndgspio General Dimitrios Choupis and Chief of the @NavyGR Vice Admiral Dimitrios – Eleftherios… pic.twitter.com/gWDHZRpuzG

— Nikos Dendias (@NikosDendias) July 6, 2024

Addressing the crew, after expressing “again the gratitude and recognition of Greek society for what you are doing, in principle, for the interests of our homeland, but also for the interests of Europe”, he reiterated the importance of the effort “what the European flotilla is doing to defend access to European ports and freedom of navigation. I know we are sending you into a danger zone. Already tonight you will be escorting a ship through the danger zone. But beyond the pride I feel in seeing the Greek Flag flying on your mast, as you sail the Red Sea, I want to tell you that the business is extremely important for every Greek citizen, for every European citizen of inflation, the loss of jobs will deeply affect Greek society, it will deeply affect European society,” he added.

“I express to you the gratitude and pride of the Greek society, the Greek Government, the Greek people and I wish to welcome you back safely to Salamis once you return,” he concluded.

I know we are sending you into a danger zone. Already tonight you will escort a ship through the danger zone.
But beyond the pride I feel in seeing the Greek Flag flying on your mast as you sail the Red Sea, I want to tell you that the business… pic.twitter.com/c4bOnpGpSl

— Nikos Dendias (@NikosDendias) July 6, 2024

The Minister of National Defense handed over to the commander of the frigate the historical flag of Psara, which had been given by the mayor of the island and is a presumption of moral and operational promotion. The white flag depicts in red the anchor for hope, the Cross as a testimony of Faith and the spear as a sign of a fist. On the anchor, a coiled snake can be seen as a symbol of the power of the Greek Nation, whose tongue was bitten by an owl, a symbolism that shows the wisdom with which the Struggle for Freedom had to be conducted.

During my visit to the FG “PSARA” I handed over to the Governor a memento of high national symbolism, the historical flag of Psara given to us by the Mayor of the island.

Its existence in a unit area of @NavyGR in @EUNAVFORASPIDES is a presumption of morality and… pic.twitter.com/KiSe6goOAG

— Nikos Dendias (@NikosDendias) July 6, 2024

As stated in a relevant announcement of the Ministry of National Defense, a meeting of Messrs. Dendias and Borel, with the Dutch commander on site in the presence of Admiral Gryparis, the head of the “ASPIDES” operation. Furthermore, Mr. Dendias met with the president of the Greek community of Djibouti, Mario Armenakis.

The Minister of National Defense and the European official were accompanied by General Dimitrios Houpis, General Dimitrios Houpis, and Gen Vice Admiral Dimitrios – Eleftherios Kataras.