US Navy warship near Yemen intercepts missiles fired by Iranian-backed militants a day after troops in Syria and Iraq fended off drone attacks as tensions escalate in the Middle East

• The drones were intercepted yesterday near Syria’s border with Iraq and Jordan
• Troops also intercepted three drone strikes in Iraq  on Tuesday 
• A US contractor died of a heart attack while sheltering at an Iraq base 
• There was no attack but they had been warned of an incoming threat 

A US Navy warship stationed near Yemen intercepted multiple missiles today fired by Iranian-backed militants in the latest sign of escalating tensions in the Middle East. 

The USS Carney shot down two land missiles and three drones fired by Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen. 

It’s unclear whether the target was Israel or the ship. There were no injuries onboard the ship and none were reported on land among civilians. 

The incident was the fourth in three days of increased aggression against US troops in the region. 

On Tuesday, troops at the al-Asad airbase in Iraq intercepted three drones. To the north, troops the Al-Harir Air Base intercepted another two. 

Yesterday, there were additional attacks on troops in Syria, near the al-Tanf airbase near Syria’s border with Iraq and Jordan. 

Another was reported at the Conoco airfield. Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an Iran-backed group, has claimed credit for the attempted strike against the Conoco base, but US officials are yet to confirm that specific strike. 

On Wednesday, a contractor at the al-Asad airbase in Iraq died of a heart attack while sheltering amid reports of an incoming attack.  

The incident was the fourth in three days of increased aggression against US troops in the region

It’s unclear if the USS Carney, the warship, was the intended target of the missiles fired from Yemen on Thursday

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the attack took place on Wednesday against U.S. forces at Al-Tanf base, near Syria’s borders with Iraq and Jordan

There were minor injuries at the al-Asad base, where troops were only able to intercept one of the drones and damage the other.

The extent of those injuries is unclear. 

It also remains unclear whether the strikes against the al-Tanf airbase resulted in any damage or injuries.  

The strikes come amid increased tension in the Middle East over the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which many now view as a conflict between the West and the Arab world.

President Biden has been steadfast in his support of Israel since Hamas attacked on October 7, supplying military aid and flying to the region in a show of strong alliance. 

His visit and ongoing support of Israel whipped up anti-American protesters in Lebanon, where crowds laid siege to the US Embassy in Beirut yesterday.

The State Department has now issued a rare worldwide caution travel advisory for Americans traveling overseas, citing the potential for terror attacks and ‘increased tensions’ as reason to be on high alert.  

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