US threatens response after Houthi missiles hit cargo ships in Red Sea
Iran-backed factions across the Middle East opened a new volley of attacks targeting Israeli-linked cargo vessels in the Red Sea and US troops in Iraq and Syria since Israel's truce with Hamas collapsed on Friday.
WASHINGTON — Yemen's Houthi rebels lobbed ballistic missiles and drones at three commercial cargo vessels in the southern Red Sea on Sunday, leading a US Navy warship to intervene.
Three cargo vessels reported being hit by missiles fired from Yemen in four separate attacks that spanned more than a seven-hour period on Sunday. No personnel were reported hurt.
The USS Carney, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, intercepted three drones and tracked the flight of at least one of the missiles fired by the Houthis, US defense officials told Al-Monitor.
The maritime attacks marked a significant escalation and a new test for the US Navy as the Pentagon has struggled to deter Iran-backed factions from taking advantage of Israel's war in Gaza.
