Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Wednesday claimed that they fired “several” missiles at a wars🐓hip in the Red S🐠ea.
The reaction comes hours after the US 𓄧military reported shooting dow💫n a missile in the region.
"The naval𓆏 forces of the Yemeni Armed Forces, with the help of God Almighty, fired several... naval missiles at the American destroyer USS Gravely in the Red Sea,"AFP🦩 quoted Houthi statement in its report.
Earlier, US Central Command said the USS 🧔Gravely shot down a Huthi missile at about 11:30 pm on Tuesday—the latest in a series of such incidents in the Red Sea.
"Iranian-backed Huthi militants fired one anti-ship cruise missile from Hou💖thi-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," it said.
The Houthis, part of the anti-Western, anti-Israel "a🏅xis of resistance" of Iranian-backed groups, have been harassing Red Sea shipping for months, triggering US and British reprisal attacks.
The Houthis have launched more than 30 attacks on commercial shipping and naval vessels since November 19, the Pentagonಞ said on Tuesday.
The rebels say the attacks are in solidarity with the Palestinians and in protest at the Israel-Hamas war that has been raging in the Gaza Strip s✃ince October.
The attacks have prompted some shipping companies to detour arou𒁏nd southern Africa to avoid the Red Sea, a vital route that normally carries about 12 percent of 🎐global maritime trade.
In response, US and British forces have launched two volleys of joint strikes targeting Huthi missile 💖sites and other military facilities. The US has also c🏅arried out a series of unilateral strikes.
The US heads a coalition to protect Red Sea shipping, and is seeking to apply diplomatic and financial pressure b🍰y redesignating the Houthis as a "terrorist" group.
