Yemen’s Shiite Houthi rebels said this Wednesday that They fired “several naval missiles” at the US destroyer in the southern Red Sea, in its “legitimate right of self-defense” against bombing by the United States and the United Kingdom.

This was stated by Houthi military spokesman Yehya Sarea in his official report on the USS Gravely warship. shot down a missile fired by the Houthis “into the Red Sea.”

He stressed that his new attack is taking place “in defense of the oppressed Palestinian people” and “as part of the response to American-British aggression against our country.”

“The Yemeni Armed Forces (as the Houthis define themselves) confirm that all American and British warships in the Red and Arabian Seas participating in aggression against our country They are within the target bank of our forces. and they will be attacked within the framework of the right of self-defense of our country, our people and our nation,” he added.

This is the first time that Iran-backed Houthi rebels have they talk about “self-defense” in the statement against the recent bombing by the United States and the United Kingdom of their missile and drone launch sites to support shipping in the Red Sea.

The Houthis have begun in recent weeks numerous attacks on merchant ships who said they were Israeli or affiliated with Israel in “supporting the oppressed Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip,” which led several shipping companies to stop using the important sea route.

A spokesman for Yemen’s rebels, who have controlled large swathes of the poor Arab country’s north, center and west since 2014, insisted their forces “They will continue to obstruct Israeli shipping. or navigation to the ports of occupied Palestine until the aggression against the Gaza Strip ceases and the blockade of the Gaza Strip imposed by Israel is lifted.

For its part, the United States said it shot down an anti-ship cruise missile launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels toward the Red Sea. without causing injury or property damage.

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The US Central Command (CENTCOM) clarified that the attempted attack occurred around 23:30 (local time). when “Iran-backed Houthi militias “They fired an anti-ship cruise missile from areas of Yemen under their control.”

“The missile was shot down by the aircraft carrier USS Gravely,” CENTCOM said, emphasizing that “There are no reports of injuries or property damage.”

(according to information from EFE And Europe Press)