UPDATE - US Navy warship shoots down cruise missiles, drones 'potentially' targeting Israel

ADDS DETAILS THROUGHOUT

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - A US Navy warship intercepted cruise missiles and drones launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels that were "potentially" targeting Israel, the Pentagon said Thursday.

The USS Carney Arleigh Burke-class destroyer was operating in the northern Red Sea when it intercepted three "land attack cruise missiles, and several drones" that were launched by the Houthis, Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder told reporters.

"This action was a demonstration of the integrated air and missile defense architecture that we have built in the Middle East, and that we are prepared to utilize whenever necessary to protect our partners and our interests in this important region," he said. "There were no casualties to US forces and none that we know of to any civilians on the ground."

The missiles were launched from inside Yemen, and were heading north along the Red Sea "potentially towards targets in Israel," Ryder added.

The incident comes as regional tensions soar, and fears of a broader conflagration amid Israel's ongoing bombardment of the Gaza Strip, and expected land invasion of the coastal enclave.

The US has deployed two aircraft carriers and other warships to the eastern Mediterranean in a move meant to deter additional parties from intervening in the ongoing hostilities. But it has raised the possibility of the US getting involved in what could be a rapidly spiraling cycle of violence.

- Drone attacks on US bases

On Wednesday, US forces stationed at the at-Tanf garrison in southeastern Syria came under attack from two drones, Ryder said. One of the drones was shot down, while the other struck the facility causing "minor injuries to coalition forces," he said.

Separately, in Iraq, the Pentagon said an early warning system detected a potential threat approaching the al-Asad Airbase, forcing personnel to take shelter "as a protective measure." Ryder said no attack materialized, but one US civilian contractor died after suffering cardiac arrest while taking shelter.

Both of those incidents happened Wednesday.

Two drones targeted the al-Asad Airbase on Tuesday, and another was shot down as it targeted the Bashir Airbase in northern Iraq, Ryder said.

"While I'm not going to forecast any potential response to these attacks, I will say that we will take all necessary actions to defend US and coalition forces against any threat. Any response, should one occur, will come at a time in a manner of our choosing," he said.

"We are certainly taking appropriate force protection measures to ensure the safety of our troops. Again, I'm not going to get into specifics. Clearly, this is an uptick in terms of the types of drone activity we've seen in Iraq and Syria," he added.

Israeli strikes in Gaza have killed at least 3,785 Palestinians, and have wounded more than 12,000 people, according to local authorities there.

Israel launched Operation Swords of Iron following a shocking multi-pronged surprise attack by Hamas that included barrages of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air.

Over 1,400 people have been confirmed killed in Israel.