SANAA, YEMEN — The U.S. Navy fired three missiles at Yemen on Thursday, in Washington’s first direct military assault against Iran-backed Houthi forces. <br /> <br />The Pentagon stressed that the strikes were a retaliatory measure, after a U.S. ship in the Red Sea was earlier targeted by missiles from Houthi-controlled territory. <br /> <br />The USS Nitze destroyer fired three Tomahawk missiles at around 4 a.m., Reuters reported. The strikes were aimed at three coastal radar sites, which had enabled the earlier Houthi missile attacks. <br /> <br />The Pentagon was keen to point out that the radar sites were in remote areas and the chance of civilian casualties was low. <br /> <br />The radar sites were used to launch at least three coastal cruise missiles against the USS Mason on Sunday and Wednesday. <br /> <br />The Houthis are fighting the internationally recognized government of Yemen and currently hold the capital city Sanaa. <br /> <br />They’ve denied launching any strikes against U.S. ships and said the allegations were a ruse designed to escalate aggression against the Yemeni people. <br /> <br />The U.S. warned that it would respond to any threat against its Navy or commercial ships in the area.
