US Fighter Thwarts Yemeni Missile Aimed at Destroyer

A US fighter aircraft successfully intercepted an anti-ship cruise missile launched from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen towards a US destroyer in the Southern Red Sea, according to the US military.

The incident is the latest in a series of Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea, purportedly in support of Palestinians facing Israeli forces in Gaza.

The US Central Command reported no injuries or damage, stating the missile was shot down near Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah. This comes amid American and British airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, eliciting threats of a “strong” response from the Iranian-backed militia. Houthi complaints about US aircraft flying near Yemeni airspace preceded the incident, with their spokesman condemning it as a violation of national sovereignty.

The Red Sea tensions contribute to broader concerns over escalating conflicts in the Middle East, beyond the Gaza Strip, where Israel is engaged in a campaign against Hamas. Concurrently, pro-Palestinian activists protested at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, condemning the British base’s role in launching strikes against the Houthis.