US warships, merchant vessels attacked by Yemen's Huthis

Two American destroyers defeated a drone and missile attack by the Huthis while escorting three merchant vessels through the Gulf of Aden, the US military said Tuesday, confirming a claim from the Yemeni rebels.

The Huthis began striking ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in November 2023, part of the region-wide fallout from Israel's devastating war in Gaza, which militant groups in multiple countries have cited as justification for attacks.

"The destroyers successfully engaged and defeated multiple one-way attack uncrewed aerial systems (OWA UAS), and one anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM), ensuring the safety of the ships and their personnel, as well as civilian vessels and their crews," the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on social media.

"The destroyers were escorting three US-owned, operated, and flagged merchant vessels. The reckless attacks resulted in no injuries and no damage to any vessels," CENTCOM said, noting that the same warships had fended off another Huthi attack within the past two weeks.

The Huthis had earlier issued a statement saying they targeted the five ships.

The Yemeni rebels say their attacks -- a significant international security challenge that threatens a major shipping lane -- are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

Anger over Israel's ongoing military campaign in the small coastal territory, which began after an unprecedented Hamas attack on October 7, has stoked violence involving Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

The United States and other countries have deployed military vessels to help shield shipping from the Huthi strikes, and the rebels have periodically launched attacks targeting American military ships.

Washington's forces have also carried out frequent air strikes on the Huthis in a bid to degrade their ability to target shipping and have sought to seize weapons before they reach the rebels, but their attacks have persisted.