US military sends guided-missile destroyer near Yemen: Officials

The United States has deployed the Navy warship USS Cole to off the coast of Yemen amid heightened tensions with Iran, according to two American officials.

The guided-missile destroyer arrived in the surrounding area of the Bab al-Mandab Strait off southwestern Yemen where it will conduct patrolling missions including escorting vessels, the officials told Reuters on Friday. They spoke on condition of anonymity.

The officials said the ship was sent to protect waterways from the Yemeni Ansarullah movement, claiming that Houthi fighters are allied with Iran.  

This comes a day after US President Donald Trump threatened Iran that "nothing is off the table" in terms of a response to its recent test launch of a ballistic missile.

SS