US military shoots down anti-ship cruise missile in Red Sea

The US says its military has shot down an anti-ship cruise missile fired from a Houthi area of Yemen aimed at a US destroyer in the Red Sea.

The incident is the first confirmed attack by Houthi rebels since US and UK-led air strikes targeted the Iran-backed group last week.

US Central Command (Centcom) on Sunday said fighter aircraft shot down the missile, which was launched towards the USS Laboon, near Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah. No injuries or damage was reported.

Houthi militants have been aiming weapons at international shipping since last November in what they say is a campaign to support Palestinians under seige from Israeli forces in Gaza.

The US and British airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen have drawn threats of a “strong and effective” response from the group.

London and Washington described the move as an act of self-defence to stop attacks on ships travelling through the Red Sea.

Earlier on Sunday, Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam said US aircraft flying close to Yemeni airspace and coastal areas were a blatant violation of national sovereignty.

Continued attacks by Houthi rebels on ships in the area have forced several shipping companies to divert around Africa, extending journeys by up to two weeks and leading to fears of price rises for various commodities.

Shipping experts have said the strikes are “not good news” for the industry and could increase the costs of transporting goods.

Around 15 per cent of all the world’s shipping passes through the route being targeted by the Houthis. The UK Government has described the area as “vital to the global economy”.