The US military stated that an American destroyer shot down two anti-ship ballistic missiles fired from Yemen on Saturday as it reacted to a cry for help from a container ship that was hit in a separate strike.
According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the missiles were launched from land controlled by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who described it as the 23rd illegal attack by the Houthis on international shipping since November 19.
The Houthis have regularly targeted vessels in the important Red Sea commercial corridor, claiming to be acting in support of Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel is fighting Hamas.
CENTCOM stated the USS Gravely and USS Laboon, both destroyers, responded to a call for help from the Maersk Hangzhou, a Singapore-flagged, Denmark-owned and managed container ship that reported being hit by a missile while traversing the Red Sea.
“While responding, the Gravely shot down the missiles, which were fired toward the ships”, CENTCOM continued.
Yemeni rebels’ attacks, which have claimed to be targeting Israel and Israeli-linked vessels, are threatening a transit route that carries up to 12 percent of global trade, prompting the US to establish a multinational naval task force to protect Red Sea shipping.
American soldiers in Iraq and Syria have also been targeted by drone and rocket attacks carried out by Iran-backed armed groups.
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