Yemen’s Huthi rebels fired “a number of” missiles at a US warship within the Crimson Sea, they mentioned on Wednesday, hours after the US army reported taking pictures down a missile.
“The naval forces of the Yemeni Armed Forces, with the assistance of God Almighty, fired a number of… naval missiles on the American destroyer USS Gravely within the Crimson Sea,” the Huthi assertion mentioned.
Earlier, US Central Command mentioned the USS Gravely shot down a Huthi missile at about 11:30 pm (2030 GMT) on Tuesday — the newest in a sequence of such incidents within the Crimson Sea.
“Iranian-backed Huthi militants fired one anti-ship cruise missile from Huthi-controlled areas of Yemen towards the Crimson Sea,” a Centcom assertion mentioned.
“The missile was shot down by USS Gravely. There have been no accidents or harm reported.”
The Huthis, a part of the anti-Western, anti-Israel “axis of resistance” of Iranian-backed teams, have been harassing Crimson Sea transport for months, triggering US and British reprisal assaults.
The Huthis have launched greater than 30 assaults on business transport and naval vessels since November 19, the Pentagon mentioned on Tuesday.
The rebels say the assaults are in solidarity with the Palestinians and in protest on the Israel-Hamas struggle that has been raging within the Gaza Strip since October.
The assaults have prompted some transport firms to detour round southern Africa to keep away from the Crimson Sea, a significant route that usually carries about 12 p.c of worldwide maritime commerce.
In response, US and British forces have launched two volleys of joint strikes concentrating on Huthi missile websites and different army amenities. The US has additionally carried out a sequence of unilateral strikes.
The US heads a coalition to guard Crimson Sea transport, and is in search of to use diplomatic and monetary stress by redesignating the Huthis as a “terrorist” group.
