Missiles from Houthi-occupied territory in Yemen fall short of US warship

A file image released by the US Navy shows a guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87) conducting formation exercises with the Cyclone-class patrol crafts USS Tempest (PC 2) and USS Squall (PC 7). (AFP)

DUBAI: Two missiles fired from rebel-held territory in Yemen fell short of a US warship patrolling the Red Sea off the coast of the war-torn country, the US navy said.
The USS Mason “detected two inbound missiles” within an hour of each other from around 7:00 p.m. (1600 GMT) on Sunday, said US Naval Forces Central Command spokeswoman Paula Dunn.
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 US destroyer.
Rebel forces “did not target any warships,” said a spokesman quoted by the insurgents’ sabanews.net website.
Also on Monday, the Arab coalition fighting the Houthis accused the rebels of firing a ballistic missile toward the southwestern Saudi city of Taif.
The missile was one of two which the Saudi-led coalition intercepted on Sunday, the coalition said, adding the other was launched toward Marib, east of Sanaa.
The incidents come after the UAEsaid last Wednesday that rebels struck a “civilian” vessel in the strategic Bab Al-Mandab waterway, wounding crewmen.
That attack, which was carried out on October 1, was claimed by the Houthis.
The UAE is a key member of a Saudi-led coalition that has been fighting the rebels since March last year.
Coalition warships have imposed a naval blockade on Houthi-occupied ports along Yemen’s Red Sea coast allowing in only UN-approved aid shipments.
In its statement, the US navy said the USremains “committed to ensuring freedom of navigation everywhere in the world.”
“We will continue to take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of our ships and our service members,” its spokeswoman was quoted as saying.