The attack on the ships was the latest in months of violence in the region by the Yemen rebels, who are backed by Iran and have targeted commercial shipping as well as the U.S. naval forces deployed to the region.

The Iran-backed group launched drones, fired missiles at two US warships in an hours-long attack, the Pentagon says.

A multiple-missile attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels on two US warships has been thwarted, the Pentagon has said. At least eight drones, five anti-ship ballistic missiles and three anti-ship cruise missiles were aimed at the USS Stockdale and the USS Spruance on Monday.