US destroyer shoots down missiles and drones launched by Houthi rebels

A U.S. destroyer shot down drones and missiles fired at it by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, officials said early Wednesday, and the Indian Navy released a video of a U.S. destroyer fighting a fire on a container ship earlier targeted by the Houthis. Image.

Tuesday’s attack apparently targeted the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Kani, which is involved in U.S. operations against insurgents who have launched attacks over Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The U.S. military’s Central Command said the Houthi attack used bomb-carrying drones and an anti-ship ballistic missile.

Central Command said the United States subsequently launched air strikes that destroyed three anti-ship missiles and three bomb-carrying unmanned boats.

Brig. Houthi spokesman Gen. Yahya al-Sarri acknowledged the attack but claimed his forces targeted two U.S. warships without elaborating.

Saare said that the Houthis “will not stop until the aggression ceases and the siege of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip is lifted.”

Saare did not acknowledge subsequent U.S. air strikes. The Houthis have yet to provide any assessment of the losses they suffered in U.S.-led airstrikes that began in January, although the group said at least 22 militants were killed.

Since November, rebels have repeatedly attacked ships in and around the Red Sea as part of Israel’s war with Hamas. At least one of the ships carried cargo to Iran, the Houthis’ main financier, and an aid ship later headed to Houthi-controlled territory.

Although U.S.-led airstrikes have continued for more than a month and a half, the Houthis remain capable of launching major attacks. They include last month’s attack on the Ruby, a cargo ship carrying fertilizer that sank on Saturday after drifting for days, and the shooting down of a U.S. drone worth tens of millions of dollars.

Meanwhile, the Indian Navy released a video of sailors from the INS Kolkata fighting a fire on board the MSC Sky II, which was attacked by Houthi rebels in the Gulf of Aden on Monday. Thick smoke was rising from a container on the ship, and there were burn marks on the container caused by the impact of Houthi missiles.

Switzerland-based Mediterranean Shipping Company said the missile hit the ship, which was sailing from Singapore to Djibouti.

“The missile caused a small fire, which has been extinguished and no one was injured,” the company said.