
FILE PHOTO: Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, former President of the Revolutionary Committee, arrives at a protest against the United States-led airstrikes. AP
The attack appears to be the first against a US destroyer amid a growing number of missile and drone strikes or attempted strikes by the Houthis, on what they deem Israeli-linked shipping on the key Red Sea trade route.
"On January 14 at approximately 4:45 p.m. (Sanaa time) an anti-ship cruise missile was fired from Houthi militant areas of Yemen toward USS Laboon (DDG 58), which was operating in the Southern Red Sea," the United States Central Command said in a statement.
"The missile was shot down in vicinity of the coast of Hodeida by US fighter aircraft," according to CENTCOM. "There were no injuries or damage reported."
The Houthis have said they are acting in solidarity with Gaza, where Israel nearly 24,000 Palestinians in more than three months of barbaric war.
Earlier the United States denied Yemeni rebel reports that it carried out new attacks Sunday on rebel targets in Yemen.
Houthi media said US and British strikes had hit rebel-held Hodeida, but a US defense official speaking on condition of anonymity said, "No US or coalition strike occurred today."
US and British forces on Friday said they hit scores of rebel targets across Yemen, heightening fears that Israel's war on the Palestinians could engulf the region.
Late Friday the US military said it had conducted a "follow-on" strike against a Houthi radar site, following an initial barrage early Friday against rebel military facilities.
Around 12 percent of global trade normally passes through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea entrance between southwest Yemen and Djibouti, but the rebel attacks have affected trade flows.
*This story has been edited by Ahram Online.
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