Iranian-backed Houthis fired “several” missiles at a US warship in the Red Sea, as they announced on Wednesday, hours after the US military reported shooting down a missile.

“The naval forces of the Yemeni Armed Forces (…) fired several… naval missiles at the American destroyer USS Gravely in the Red Sea,” the Houthi statement said.

Earlier, US Central Command said that the USS Gravely shot down a Houthi missile at about 11:30 PM (2030 GMT) on Tuesday – the latest in a series of such incidents off Yemen’s coast.

“Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired one anti-ship cruise missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Red Sea,” a Centcom statement said.

“The missile was shot down by USS Gravely. There were no injuries or damage reported.”

The Houthis, part of the anti-Western, anti-Israel “axis of resistance” of Iranian loyalist groups, have been harassing local shipping for months, triggering US and UK reprisal attacks.

With AFP