The US military said it had destroyed nine anti-ship ballistic missiles and two drones in Yemen after Houthi rebels fired on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, AFP reports.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said two missiles fired by the Houthi rebels towards the Red Sea and two towards the Gulf of Aden had caused no damage or injuries.

It said the strikes on the missiles and drones in Yemen were made “to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer” for US Navy and merchant vessels.

“It was determined these weapons presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and US Navy ships in the region,” CENTCOM said on social media platform X.