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A US destroyer intercepted ballistic missiles fired by Houthi terrorists at a US container ship in the Red Sea on Wednesday, a US official told Fox News.
The Iran-backed Houthi terrorists fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles at the US-flagged, US-owned container ship M/V Maersk Detroit Commercial as it transited the Gulf of Aden in the southern Red Sea, a US official said defense official told Fox News. The rockets were fired from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen.
The USS Gravely, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, intercepted two of the missiles while the third fell into the sea, the official said.
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The U.S. container ship is continuing its journey and initial reports indicate there were no injuries and no damage to the ship, the official said.
U.S. defense officials say more large-scale attacks have taken place against Houthi forces
The USS Gravely is an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer. On Wednesday, U.S. defense officials said the destroyer intercepted two Houthi ballistic missiles that were fired at a U.S.-flagged, U.S.-owned container ship. (US Navy via Getty Images, File)
John Kirby, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, told reporters at a briefing Wednesday afternoon that two ships had been attacked.
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“What I can tell you and what I know about what happened today is that three Houthi missiles were fired at two merchant vessels in the southern Red Sea,” Kirby said. “One missile missed its target by about 200 kilometers. The other two were shot down by a U.S. Navy destroyer.”
CENTCOM CONFIRMS US AIR ATTACKS ON HOUTHI SHIPS NEAR RED SEA
This is the third US ship the Houthis have attacked in recent weeks.
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It is the first Houthi attack since January 18 and the 36th attack on merchant vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November 19.