A missile launched at an American warship from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen on Sunday (local time) has been shot down, according to the United States military.
The attack comes just days after the US and the United Kingdom carried out strikes against Houthi targets including depots and production facilities in regions of Yemen governed by the rebel group.
The militant organisation had previously been warned by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken there would be “consequences” if it continued to harass merchant shipping in the Red Sea.
US Central Command said Sunday’s attack involved an anti-ship cruise missile being launched from Houthi militant areas of Yemen towards the USS Laboon.
“On Jan. 14 at approximately 4:45 p.m. (Sanaa time), an anti-ship cruise missile was fired from Iranian-backed Houthi militant areas of Yemen toward USS Laboon (DDG 58), which was operating in the Southern Red Sea,” it said in a statement posted to X.
“The missile was shot down in vicinity of the coast of Hudaydah by U.S. fighter aircraft.
“There were no injuries or damage reported.”
The rebel group has been attacking cargo ships and at times, navy vessels from the US and the UK in the southern Red Sea and in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait since November last year.
The Houthis originally said they were targeting Israeli-linked ships in retaliation for Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.
However, ships flagged to a variety of countries have since been attacked, causing hundreds of vessels to re-route around the Cape of Good Hope and adding huge delays to journeys.
The US in December banded together a 20-nation coalition called Operation Prosperity Guardian to attempt to deal with the issue.
However, the Houthis have continued to coordinate drone and missile attacks against ships in the area and even attempted to board ships using small boats.
(SKY NEWS)
