US Navy warship in Red Sea intercepts 3 missiles heading north out of Yemen

A US Navy warship on Thursday disabled three missiles fired from Yemen and heading north, US officials said.

Officials said the USS Carney, a Navy destroyer, was in the Red Sea and intercepted the three missiles. It was not immediately certain whether they were aimed at Israel. One of the officials said the US does not believe the missiles targeted the ship.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss unannounced military operations.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels have expressed support for the Palestinians and threatened Israel. Last week, demonstrators in Yemen’s Sanaa, held by Houthi rebels still at war with a Saudi-led coalition, marched through the streets waving Yemeni and Palestinian flags. The rebels’ slogan has long been: God is greatest; death to America; death to Israel; curse of the Jews; victory for Islam.

Last week, Abdel-Malek al-Houthi, the rebel group’s leader, warned the United States against intervening in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, threatening that his forces would retaliate by firing drones and missiles.