A US fighter aircraft shot down an anti-ship cruise missile fired by from Houthi-controlled Yemen on Sunday, it has been reported.
The missile was headed for a US Navy Destroyer, USS Laboon, which has been active in the Red Sea. No injuries or damage was reported following the attack.
US Central Command said on X: “On Jan. 14 at approximately 4:45 p.m. (Sanaa time), an anti-ship cruise missile was fired from Iranian-backed Houthi militant areas of Yemen toward USS Laboon (DDG 58), which was operating in the Southern Red Sea.
“The missile was shot down in the vicinity of the coast of Hudaydah by US fighter aircraft. There were no injuries or damage reported.”
The news came after Yemeni sources claimed that eight people had been killed in an airstrike in northern Hodeidah including two Hezbollah terrorists from Lebanon, Sky News Arabic reported. The US has not confirmed the strike.
READ MORE: Iran warns US and UK now ‘justified targets’ after strikes on Houthi rebels
The news comes after US President Joe Biden’s administration warned the Houthis they would “bear the consequences” of their attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
The Houthis started attacking ships in response to Israel’s heavy bombardment of Gaza, coming after Hamas’ attack on the country on October 7.
Western allies, including the US and UK, have started striking Yemen to try and eliminate the Houthis military capabilities.
Sky News Arabia reports that Yemeni sources have claimed six Houthis and two Lebanese Hezbollah experts were killed in a bombing targeting northern Hodeidah, a city in Yemen.
The Houthis, like Hamas and Hezbollah, are supported by Iran. Tehran provides both political and financial backing to the group.
The US State Department has announced it will impose sanctions to try and prevent Iran from funding the Houthis.
Its statement read: Iran’s financial support to the Houthis has fueled their unrelenting attacks on global commerce in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
“The United States is today designating two additional companies that have been involved in the shipment of Iranian commodities in support of the Iran-based, Houthi financial facilitator Sa’id al-Jamal and his network.
“We are also identifying four vessels as blocked property in which these companies have an interest.
“The United States will continue to counter illicit Iranian financial support to the Houthis. Along with our allies and partners, the United States will take available measures to hinder the destabilizing activities of the Houthis that threaten navigational rights and freedoms and global maritime trade.”
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