U.S. warship fires additional missiles at Yemen amid uncertain circumstances

The Navy destroyer USS Mason fired at the coastline of civil war-wracked Yemen for the third time in a week Saturday after the ship detected what may have been incoming missiles.

Though the warship's crew initially believed themselves to be under fire, the Navy now says it also could have been a radar malfunction. "We are aware of the reports and we are assessing the situation. All of our ships and crews are safe and unharmed," said a Defense Department official.

Previously, the Mason was fired upon and launched missiles in return this past Sunday night and Thursday morning. The ship is stationed near Yemen as part of U.S. support for a Saudi-led coalition's military intervention in Yemen's internal conflict. For more on the effects of the Saudi onslaught and the nature of U.S. backing, see this analysis from The Week's Michael Brendan Dougherty.

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