A U.S. Navy destroyer was targeted on Saturday in a failed missile attack from territory in Yemen controlled by Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, the third such incident in the past week, U.S. officials said. The latest attack could provoke further retaliation by the U.S. military, which launched cruise missiles on Thursday against three coastal radar sites in Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen in response to the two previous failed missile firings against the Mason. Another U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters: “We are assessing the situation. The Houthi movement earlier this week denied responsibility for the missile attacks on the Mason and warned that it too would defend itself. Iran, which supports the Houthi group, said last week it had deployed two warships to the Gulf of Aden, to protect ship lanes from piracy.

Source: Egypt Independent October 16, 2016 01:07 UTC