US Navy warship near Yemen intercepts missiles fired by Iranian-backed militants a day after troops in Syria and Iraq fended off drone attacks as tensions escalate in the Middle East
- The drones were intercepted yesterday near the Syrian border with Iraq and Jordan
- Troops also intercepted three drone strikes in Iraq on Tuesday
A US Navy warship stationed near Yemen today intercepted multiple missiles fired by Iranian-backed militants, in the latest sign of escalating tensions in the Middle East.
CNN quotes unnamed Defense Department officials as saying the missiles came from Houthi, a group already embroiled in conflict in Yemen.
It is unclear whether the USS Carney, the warship, was the intended target.
The incident comes just a day after US forces in Syria intercepted two drones targeting bases near the border with Iraq, Pentagon officials have confirmed.
The attacks targeted the al-Tanf air base near Syria’s borders with Iraq and Jordan.
It was the third attempted attack on US forces in the Middle East in two days: on Tuesday troops intercepted drones at al-Asad air base and the Conoco base in the countryside of the northern region of Deir al-Zor.
Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an Iranian-backed group, has claimed credit for the attempted attack on the Conoco base.
It is unclear whether the warship USS Carney was the intended target of the missiles fired from Yemen on Thursday
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the attack took place on Wednesday against US forces at the Al-Tanf base, near Syria’s borders with Iraq and Jordan.
There were minor injuries at the al-Asad base, where troops were only able to intercept one of the drones and damage the other.
The extent of those injuries is unclear.
It also remains unclear whether the attacks on al-Tanf air base resulted in damage or injuries.
The attacks come amid increased tensions in the Middle East over the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which many now view as a conflict between the West and the Arab world.
President Biden has been steadfast in his support for Israel since Hamas attacked on October 7, providing military aid and flying to the region in a show of strong alliance.
His visit and continued support for Israel fueled anti-American protesters in Lebanon, where crowds yesterday besieged the US embassy in Beirut.
The State Department has now issued a rare global travel advisory for Americans traveling abroad, citing the possibility of terrorist attacks and “heightened tensions” as reasons to be on high alert.
