UK navy downs Houthi missile targeting merchant vessel — ministry

LONDON — Britain's Royal Navy shot down a missile fired at a merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden by Iranian-backed Houthis, the defence ministry said on Thursday.

The Houthis said their missiles had "directly hit" a British ship.

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

"The UK continues to be at the forefront of the international response to the Iranian-backed 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."

Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree confirmed that a missile attack had been staged in a post on X, the former Twitter.

He said Houthi "naval forces" had "targeted a British oil ship [Andromeda Star] in the Red Sea with a number of appropriate naval missiles and the ship was directly hit".

The Houthis also said they had shot down a US drone on Thursday over Yemeni territory.

US and British forces on January 12 fired their first joint strikes at Houthi facilities targeting vessels in the key Red Sea trade route. The Houthis says the attacks are in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where Israel is at war with Hamas.

The Houthis 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.