Mayport naval ship intercepts missiles in Middle East

A ship based at Naval Station Mayport was one of three U.S. Navy ships that intercepted a barrage of nearly two dozen missiles and drones from Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in the Middle East on Friday.

The littoral combat ship, the USS Indianapolis, was involved along with the USS Spruance and USS Stockdale while the ships were traveling through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, according to a report from CNN .

Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said during a news conference Friday that no injuries were reported and no ships were damaged.

“We did see a complex attack launch from the Houthis that range from cruise missiles and (unmanned aerial vehicles]. My understanding is that those were either engaged and shot down or failed, but at no time did any hit a U.S. ship,” Singh said.

Singh could not confirm whether the ships were the target of the attack, but the report from CNN cited a Houthi spokesperson who said the vessels were targets “while they were en route to support and assist the Israeli Army.”

This is the latest in a series of attacks by the rebels on U.S. ships and vessels since the start of the Israel-Hamas war last October.

Since the conflict started last year, other Mayport-based ship have engaged with Houthi rebels.

In July, the USS Mason returned to Mayport after a nine-month deployment in which the crew was targeted by Houthi rebels and Iranian missiles while on patrol. The crew was able to stop all anti-ship ballistic missiles and destroyed 22 Houthi targets in Yemen.

The U.S.S. Carney also has a history of taking on the rebels. The ship returned to Mayport in May after a seven-month deployment in which the crew destroyed Houthi weapons and 65 targets in Yemen.

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