Official: US destroyer stops Houthi missiles targeting US-owned container ship

On Wednesday, a U.S. destroyer intercepted ballistic missiles launched by Houthi terrorists at a U.S.-owned container ship in the Red Sea, according to a U.S. official who spoke to Planet Chronicle.

According to a U.S. defense official, three anti-ship ballistic missiles were fired at the U.S. flagged and U.S. owned M/V Maersk Detroit Commercial Container ship transiting the Gulf of Aden in the Southern Red Sea by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

An Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, the USS Gravely, intercepted two of the missiles while the third splashed down into the sea, according to an official statement.

According to initial reports, there were no injuries or damage to the U.S. container ship during its transit, an official stated.

During a Wednesday afternoon briefing, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby revealed that two ships had been targeted.

"According to Kirby, three Houthi missiles were fired at two merchant vessels in the Southern Red Sea. One missile missed by approximately 200 kilometers, while the other two were shot down by a U.S. Navy destroyer."

This is the third U.S.-owned ship the Houthis have attacked in recent weeks.

Since Jan. 18, the Houthi group has carried out its first attack on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, making it the 36th attack in this region since November 19.