The British Ministry of Defense announced the dispatch of a new destroyer to protect shipping routes in the Red Sea from attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthis.

The British Ministry of Defense said, in a statement on Monday, that the Royal Navy warship HMS Duncan set off from Portsmouth to the Red Sea.

She added that the Type 45 destroyer will replace her sister ship, HMS Diamond, which has been protecting shipping lanes in the Red Sea from Houthi attacks since before Christmas.

She explained that the ship Duncan is an ideal alternative to the Diamond, as it is armed with the same missile system as the Sea Viper and equipped with the same radar systems, capable of accurately detecting distant threats.

It was reported that the replacement destroyer had previously spent five months commanding NATO's main task group in the Mediterranean last year, until handing over the main duties to the Italian Navy in December.

According to the ministry’s statement, the ship’s launch on its mission was preceded by training and experiments last week, stressing that its deployment in the Red Sea will enhance freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more peaceful.

Since January 12, the United Kingdom has been participating alongside the United States in launching raids in Yemen, which it says are targeting Houthi military sites in response to the Iranian-backed militias attacking ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.