Missiles fired from Yemen fall short of US warship, says US navy
Missiles fired from Yemen fall short of US warship, says US navy
AFP Photo
Two missiles fired from rebel-held territory in Yemen fell short of a U.S. warship patrolling the Red Sea off the coast of the war-torn country, the U.S. navy said Oct. 10.The USS Mason “detected two inbound missiles” within an hour of each other from around 7:00 p.m. (4:00 p.m. GMT) on Oct. 9, said U.S. Naval Forces Central Command spokeswoman Paula Dunn, according to AFP.
The destroyer had been “conducting routine operations in international waters” at the time, she said in a statement.
“Both missiles impacted the water before reaching the ship,” said Dunn, adding that “there were no injuries to our sailors and no damage to the ship.”
“We assess these missiles were launched from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen,” she said, referring to the Iran-backed rebels fighting Yemen’s internationally recognized government.
The Houthis described as “unfounded” reports they fired missiles at the U.S. destroyer.
Rebel forces “did not target any warships,” said a spokesman quoted by the insurgents’ sabanews.net website.
Also on Oct. 10, the Arab coalition fighting the Houthis accused the rebels of firing a ballistic missile towards the southwestern Saudi city of Taif.
The missile was one of two which the Saudi-led coalition intercepted on Oct. 9, the coalition said, adding the other was launched toward Marib, east of Yemen’s rebel-held capital Sanaa.
The incidents come after the United Arab Emirates said Oct. 5 that Yemeni rebels struck a “civilian” vessel in the strategic Bab al-Mandab waterway, wounding crewmen.
That attack, which was carried out on Oct. 1, was claimed by the Shiite rebels.
The UAE is a key member of a Saudi-led coalition that has been fighting the Yemeni rebels since March last year.
The destroyer had been “conducting routine operations in international waters” at the time, she said in a statement.
“Both missiles impacted the water before reaching the ship,” said Dunn, adding that “there were no injuries to our sailors and no damage to the ship.”
“We assess these missiles were launched from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen,” she said, referring to the Iran-backed rebels fighting Yemen’s internationally recognized government.
The Houthis described as “unfounded” reports they fired missiles at the U.S. destroyer.
Rebel forces “did not target any warships,” said a spokesman quoted by the insurgents’ sabanews.net website.
Also on Oct. 10, the Arab coalition fighting the Houthis accused the rebels of firing a ballistic missile towards the southwestern Saudi city of Taif.
The missile was one of two which the Saudi-led coalition intercepted on Oct. 9, the coalition said, adding the other was launched toward Marib, east of Yemen’s rebel-held capital Sanaa.
The incidents come after the United Arab Emirates said Oct. 5 that Yemeni rebels struck a “civilian” vessel in the strategic Bab al-Mandab waterway, wounding crewmen.
That attack, which was carried out on Oct. 1, was claimed by the Shiite rebels.
The UAE is a key member of a Saudi-led coalition that has been fighting the Yemeni rebels since March last year.