The attack was the first against a US destroyer as the Houthis have previously targeted merchant ships
The US armed forces announced that a fighter jet shot down a cruise missile targeting their cruiser that was fired from an area of Yemen controlled by the Houthis.
Yesterday around 16:45 (local time; 15:45 Greek time), “anti-ship cruise missile, fired from (area controlled by) Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the direction of USS Laboon“, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer deployed in the southern part of the Red Sea, “was shot down off the coast of Hodaida”, in western Yemen, “by an American fighter jet”, announced in the early hours of the morning the joint command of the American armed forces responsible for the Middle East region (CENTCOM, “central command”) via X (formerly Twitter).
There were no injuries or damage, according to CENTCOM.
The attack, as far as is known, was the first against a US destroyer; the Houthis have until now targeted merchant ships in the Red Sea that they believed to be “connected” to Israel. They are carrying out these attacks as a sign of “solidarity” with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where Israel and Hamas have been embroiled in a war since the Palestinian Islamist movement’s military wing launched an unprecedented attack on Israeli territory on October 7.
Earlier, Washington denied reportsreported by media close to the Houthis, of new “US-British strikes” in the port of Hodaida yesterday.
“There was no strike, US or coalition,” a US official said on condition of anonymity.
US and British forces hit Houthi installations in various sectors of Yemen on Friday, heightening fears that the Israel-Hamas war will spread to the region.
The Houthis then fired “at least one missile” without hitting any ships, according to the US military.
On Saturday morning, there was a new American raid against a radar installation in Yemen.
Under normal conditions, about 12% of world trade passes through the Red Sea, however, since mid-November, Houthi attacks have forced major shipping companies to suspend their ship routes through the region. Now their boats go around Africa, which increases transport costs, especially between Europe and Asia, and increases the duration of the voyages.
Source :Skai
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