A U.S. Navy destroyer on Thursday intercepted a series of missiles and drones launched from Yemen, though it remains unclear whether the ship was the intended target.
The USS Carney intercepted three missiles fired by militants, as well as a handful of drones, Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said, according to CNN. Yemen is currently embroiled in a civil war and the Houthi faction, which fired the rockets, enjoys support from Tehran. Ryder confirmed there were no casualties in the exchange.
"This action was a demonstration of the integrated air and missile defense architecture that we built in the Middle East and that we are prepared to utilize whenever necessary to protect our partners and our interest in this important region," he said.
The Carney's encounter with the projectiles marked the latest entanglement of U.S. forces in ongoing turmoil across the Middle East that has erupted amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed Wednesday that U.S. forces had defended themselves against drones in Iraq and that coalition forces there had sustained minor injuries.
"In this moment of heightened alert, we are vigilantly monitoring the situation in Iraq and the region. We want to emphasize U.S. forces will defend U.S. and Coalition forces against any threat," CENTCOM said in a press release.
Iraq is home to numerous Iran-backed militia groups and President Joe Biden has warned Tehran against aggressive actions following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Hamas enjoys support from Iran.
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