US warship intercepts missiles fired from Yemen 'towards Israel'

A US Navy warship has intercepted missiles and drones launched from Yemen by the Iran-aligned Houthi movement, US officials say. A Pentagon spokesman said the missiles had been launched "potentially towards targets in Israel".

The USS Carney, a guided-missile destroyer, was operating in the northern Red Sea on Thursday. The Pentagon also said US troops in Iraq and Syria had been attacked several times in recent days.

Washington is on alert for activity by Iran-backed groups as Israel continues to attack Hamas targets in Gaza. The Pentagon's Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said three land attack cruise missiles and several drones fired from Yemen had been downed.

There were no injuries reported from the incident and a US official said the warship did not appear to be the target. "We cannot say for certain what these missiles and drones were targeting, but they were launched from Yemen, heading north along the Red Sea, potentially towards targets in Israel," he told reporters.