A US Navy destroyer was once again targeted in a failed missile attack from a territory controlled by the Iranian backed Houthi rebels in the war-ravaged country, the second such incident in just four days. Defense experts said the renewed attempt to target the US Navy destroyer will add pressure on the US military to retaliate, a move that would represent the first direct US military action against Houthis in Yemen’s conflict, which are battling Saudi Arabian-backed forces.
The Pentagon said however that it would respond “at the appropriate time and in the appropriate manner,” which came yesterday when a US destroyer fired three cruise missiles at Houthi targets. The Pentagon confirmed: all targets were destroyed.
Until today, the United States, a longtime ally of Saudi Arabia, has only provided aerial refueling of jets from a Saudi-led coalition striking the Iranian backed group in Yemen.