An Italian navy destroyer shotdown a drone that was approaching it in the Red Sea, where Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels are attacking shipping, the defence ministry has said, AFP reports.

“In accordance with the principle of legitimate defence, the ship Duilio shot down a drone in the Red Sea” on Saturday, the ministry said in a statement.

“The drone, bearing similar features to those already used in previous attacks, was located six kilometres from the Italian ship and was flying towards it,” it added.

Italy has pledged to take command of a separate EU naval force in the Red Sea, but parliament must first approve the move and the formal procedures have advanced slowly.