Iran sends warships to Yemen coast after US attack on Houthis

Iran sent 2 warships to the Gulf of Aden on 13th October, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported, establishing a military presence in waters off Yemen where the US military launched cruise missile strikes on areas controlled by Iran-backed Houthi forces.

"Iran's Alvand and Bushehr warships have been dispatched to the Gulf of Aden to protect trade vessels," Tasnim reported. The Alvand and Bushehr are both destroyers.

Saudi Arabia accuses Tehran of providing support to the Houthi political movement, a charge it denies.

Tasnim said the Iranian ships will patrol the Gulf of Aden, south of Yemen, which is one of the world's most important shipping routes. The announcement comes hours after the US said it had fired cruise missiles at 3 Houthi-contolled radar stations after anti-ship missiles were fired at a US Navy destroyer.

The missile launches from the USS Nitze on 13th October mark the first time the US had directly attacked the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

“These limited self-defence strikes were conducted to protect our personnel, our ships and our freedom of navigation in this important maritime passageway,” the US defence department said. “The US will respond to any further threat to our ships and commercial traffic."