US carries out 'self-defense' strike against Houthi anti-ship missile: CENTCOM

 The US military struck Yemen on Saturday after a Houthi anti-ship missile was aimed at the Red Sea and was ready to launch, according to US Central Command.

The attack was carried out early Saturday morning, which CentCom described as a "self-defense" attack.

"At approximately 3:45 a.m. (SANA time) on January 27, U.S. Central Command Forces conducted a strike against a Houthi anti-ship missile targeted in the Red Sea and prepared for launch," CENTCOM said in a statement. Was."

"U.S. forces identified the missile in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined that it poses an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy vessels in the area," the statement added. "U.S. forces subsequently attacked and destroyed the missile in self-defense. This action will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer for U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels."

It happened when Iran-backed Houthi militants fired an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and struck the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker M/V Marlin Luanda at around 7:45 p.m. Sanaa time on Friday night, Centcom said. The ship made a distress call and reported damage but no injuries were reported.

The attack against a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker is the 38th attack by the Houthis since November 19 and the second on Friday.

The Houthis' al-Masirah satellite news channel said the strikes occurred near the port city of Hodeida.