Royal Navy Thwarts Houthi Missile Attack

Britain's Royal Navy shot down a missile fired at a merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden by Houthis, the defense ministry said.

The HMS Diamond warship used a Sea Viper missile system to shoot down the missile, the ministry said.

"The UK continues to be at the forefront of the international response to the Houthis' dangerous attacks on commercial vessels, which have claimed the lives of international mariners," Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said.

"I want to thank the brave crew of HMS Diamond for her vital role in saving innocent lives and protecting international shipping from illegal Houthi attacks."

US and British forces on January 12 fired their first joint strikes aimed at reducing the Huthis' ability to target vessels transiting the key Red Sea trade route. The Huthis say the attacks are in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where Israel is at war with Hamas.

"The naval forces of the Yemeni armed forces targeted an Israeli ship (MSC DARWIN) in the Gulf of Aden, using a number of suitable naval missiles and drones. The operation successfully achieved its objectives," said Yahya Saree, Houthi military spokesman.

"The missile force fired a number of ballistic and winged missiles at a number of targets belonging to the Israeli enemy in Umm al-Rashrash area (Eilat City), south of occupied Palestine," he added.

The Huthis began targeting Red Sea shipping in November.

The US military has also carried out unilateral air raids, but the Huthis have vowed to continue their attacks.

The Red Sea carries about 12 percent of international maritime traffic. Since the attacks started, several shipping firms have stopped using the waterway, instead taking the longer and more expensive route around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.