REVENGE STRIKE US pounds Houthis with fresh airstrike on anti-ship missile site in Yemen after cargo vessel hit by rocket in Red Sea

THE US military have pounded Houthi rebels with a fresh airstrike on a stash of anti-ship ballistic missiles in Yemen.

The strike marks the latest military action against the Iranian-backed fighters after their string of brazen attacks on ships in the Red Sea.

The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the strike targeted four anti-ship missiles in a Houthi-controlled part of the country.

Since the UK and the US smashed dozens of military targets last week in Yemen, the furious rebel group has vowed "unimaginable" revenge.

And earlier on Tuesday, a missile fired from Yemen hit a Greek-owned cargo ship in the Red Sea.

The incident took place 100 nautical miles north west of Saleef, the UK's Marine Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.

The cargo hold of the Malta-flagged vessel was struck by the rocket, according to British maritime security firm Ambrey.

The ship was moving northbound at the time of the attack - and managed to continue to a port.

No injuries were reported on board - but authorities are currently investigating the incident.

Vessels have been advised to transit through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden "with caution and report any suspicious activity".

Tuesday's attack comes after the Houthis hit a US-owned cargo ship with a three-rocket barrage on Monday.

The port side of the vessel was hit "from above" by one of the missiles - while the other two failed to reach the sea.

It came just hours after a US warship downed a cruise missile fired by the Houthi rebels.

According to Ambrey, the attack "targeted US interests in response to US military strikes on Houthi military positions in Yemen".

Following the attack, Rishi Sunak said Britain would not "hesitate" to launch more strikes against the Iran-backed Houthis.

In a blunt warning to the Houthis, the PM said "the threats to shipping must cease" and "illegally detained vessels and crews must be released".

"We remain prepared to back our words with actions," he added.

The PM also told MPs all planned targets had been destroyed in the strikes with no reports of civilian casualties.

The possibility for Britain to conduct further strikes has also been raised by both the Defence Secretary and the Foreign Secretary.

Grant Shapps said the purpose of last week's strikes were “not to go into Yemen or anything like that”, but to “send a very clear, I hope unambiguous message” for the Houthis to stop their assaults.

The Cabinet Minister added: “We will now watch and monitor the situation very carefully.

“As we’ve said — not just to the Houthis but to their Iranian masters, in a sense, because they are really proxies for Tehran — this cannot go on.

“International shipping … freedom of navigation is just a given and always has been for many, many years. We cannot have that situation where they are trying to harass it and we will keep a very close eye.

“If we have to take further action, that is something that we will consider.”