Britain's Royal Navy has shot down a missile fired by the Iran-backed Huthis at a merchant ship in the Gulf of Aden, the Ministry of Defense said on Thursday.
The warship HMS Diamond used a Sea Viper missile system to shoot down the missile on Wednesday, the ministry said.
“Britain continues to lead the international response to the Iranian-backed Huthis' dangerous attacks on commercial ships, which have claimed the lives of international sailors,” Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said.
“I would like to thank the brave crew of HMS Diamond for their vital role in saving innocent lives and protecting international shipping from illegal Houthi attacks.”
US and British forces fired their first joint attacks on January 12, aimed at reducing the Huthis' ability to target ships traversing the main Red Sea trade route. The Huthis say the attacks provide support to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where Israel is at war with Hamas.
The Huthis began targeting shipping in the Red Sea in November.
The US military has also carried out unilateral airstrikes, but the Huthis have vowed to continue their attacks.
The Red Sea carries approximately 12 percent of international maritime traffic. Since the attacks began, several shipping companies have stopped using the waterway, instead taking the longer and more expensive route around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.
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