The Hellenic Navy frigate "Hydra" opened fired on two Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in the Gulf of Aden, in accordance with the rules of engagement, according to an announcement of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff (HNDGS), government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis said on Wednesday in an interview.

"This is the informal update we had from HNDGS and that's what we know. It is continuing its course as normal, without any problems. We have nothing more from this update and these are matters that we must be very careful about. At the time it was providing protection to a merchant ship. The reaction was exactly in line with protocol. The ship did what it was supposed to do under the rules of engagement and will continue to be in the area for as long as the operation lasts, as is the case for all the other big countries participating in this operation," Marinakis said.

Regarding main opposition SYRIZA's economic programme, the government spokesperson commented that "history is repeating itself as farce. (SYRIZA leader) Kasselakis is taking up the baton from (his predecessor) Tsipras."

"Exercising economic policy is not 'Monopoly'," Marinakis underlined, adding that "a harsh and difficult reality" has intervened and that this reality "demolishes populism".

"It (the economic programme) is not worthy of comment," he added.