US Navy destroyer in Red Sea fires cruise missile that may be headed for Israel: Pentagon

The USS Carney, a Navy destroyer in the Red Sea, shot down several missiles fired by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen on Thursday that may have been aimed at targets in Israel, according to the Pentagon.

The ship intercepted three land-attack cruise missiles and about eight drones, Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General said. Gen. Pat Ryder said at a news conference.

According to a preliminary US assessment, the USS Carney was not the target of any of the Houthi missiles or drones.

Information about the engagements is still being processed, Ryder said. “We cannot say with certainty what these missiles and drones were aimed at, but they were fired from Yemen north along the Red Sea, possibly towards targets in Israel.”

It is unclear where the Houthi militia’s rockets were fired from, but they were aimed north, an official said.

The incident occurred in the early evening hours of Thursday local time and the missiles were fired over water rather than land, the Pentagon said.

The missiles fired by the Houthis were attacked by SM2 missiles aboard the USS Carney, an official said.

No sailors on board the ship were injured, the official said.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.