A US destroyer intercepted ballistic missiles fired by Houthi terrorists at a US-owned container ship in the Red Sea on Wednesday, a US official told Fox News.
Iran-backed Houthi terrorists fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles at the U.S.-owned, U.S.-flagged commercial container ship M/V Maersk Detroit transiting the Gulf of Aden in the southern Red Sea, a defense official said. American to Fox News. The missiles were fired from areas of Yemen controlled by the Houthis.
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.
The U.S. container ship continues its transit and, according to initial reports, there were no injuries or damage to the ship, the official said.
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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 fired at a U.S.-owned and flagged container ship. (US Navy via Getty Images, file)
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters at a briefing Wednesday afternoon that two ships were attacked.
“What I can tell you and what I do know about what happened today is that there were three Houthi missiles fired at two merchant ships in the southern Red Sea,” Kirby said. “One missile failed about 200 kilometers away. The other two were shot down by a US Navy destroyer.”
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This is the third US-owned ship the Houthis have attacked in recent weeks.
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This is the first Houthi attack since January 18 and the 36th attack on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November 19.
