Missiles 'fired at US warships' off Yemen, says US military

American warships may have again been targeted by missiles in the Red Sea although none hit, according to the US military.

Officials initially said surface-to-surface rockets had been fired from rebel-held territory at the USS Mason, USS Nitze and USS Ponce off the coast of Yemen.

However, they later backtracked and said the ships detected what may have been missiles.

A defence official said: "A US Strike Group transiting international waters in the Red Sea detected possible inbound missile threats and deployed appropriate defensive measures.

"Post event assessment is ongoing. All US warships and vessels in the area are safe."

If confirmed, it would be the third time in a week US warships had been attacked.

Last Thursday, the US Navy fired Tomahawk missiles into Yemen to destroy three radar sites, which military commanders said had been involved in two missile attacks on the USS Mason.

The Iranian-backed Huthi rebels have denied carrying out the attacks.

Although the US is providing logistical support to a Saudi-led coalition battling the rebels, Washington has been anxious to avoid becoming involved in yet another conflict in an already unstable region.

The bloody civil war has killed more than 6,000 people, injured more than 35,000 and forced at least three million to flee since the coalition launched military operations last year.