Shia Houthi rebels on Thursday condemned US air strikes against coastal radar sites, denying they tried to attack a US warship off Yemen's coast and defending their right to sovereignty.
"The direct American attack targeting Yemeni soil this morning is not acceptable," a Houthi military spokesman was quoted as saying by the Houthi-controlled Saba news agency.
The official denied reports alleging that a US warship was targeted off the Yemeni coasts from territory under the control of the Iran-backed Houthis and their allies.
"These allegations are unfounded," the official said in a statement received by Saba.
The Houthi movement warned the US against further attacks on Yemeni territory after US cruise missiles targeted three coastal radar sites on Thursday in retaliation for failed missile attacks on a Navy destroyer.
"Yemen has the right to defend itself and we would deal with any development with the right steps."
Pro-Houthi forces reportedly control much of the northern half of Yemen while local tribes share control of the rest of the country with forces loyal to president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, who had to flee the country when the rebels overran Sanaa in September 2014 and pushed south.
A Saudi-led coalition began air strikes against the Houthis in March 2015 in support of Hadi and imposed an air and sea blockade in March this year.
More than 10,000 people have died since hostilities broke out, the majority in air strikes, according to the United Nations.
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