In a major development, the Royal Navy's HMS Diamond destroyer successfully intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Houthi rebels in Yemen, marking the first such kill by the UK since the Gulf War over 30 years ago. Acting to protect a commercial ship in the Gulf of Aden, the Type 45 destroyer utilized its advanced Sea Viper missile interceptors to neutralize the Houthi threat.

According to a report from US Central Command (CENTCOM), the coalition vessel, identified as the Diamond by The Times, engaged and destroyed an anti-ship ballistic missile earlier that day. The targeted ship, the MV Yorktown, a US-flagged merchant vessel with American and Greek crew members, emerged unscathed with no reported damage or injuries.

This significant achievement by the Royal Navy is the first time a missile has been intercepted in combat by a British warship since 1991. During the Gulf War, the Type 42 destroyer HMS Gloucester made history by using Sea Dart missiles to successfully destroy an Iraqi silkworm anti-ship missile, which was threatening an American warship. This marked the first instance of anti-air missiles successfully countering an enemy missile threat at sea.

The specific type of missile employed by the Houthi rebels on Wednesday remains unknown. It has been confirmed that the rebel group has utilized a variety of missiles and drones of Iranian origin in their attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since last year.

Grant Shapps, the UK defense secretary, confirmed the incident and emphasized its significance in an interview with The Times. The engagement is part of the ongoing operations of the Diamond, which was deployed to the region in December as part of a US Navy-led task force countering persistent Houthi threats off the coast of Yemen.

The Diamond's deployments have already seen successful interceptions of Houthi drones, in addition to this recent ballistic missile interception. Several other European warships, alongside American vessels, have also been involved in destroying Houthi threats in the air.

Shortly after the Diamond's engagement, US forces took action to destroy four drones over Yemen. CENTCOM stated that these measures were necessary to counter the imminent threat posed by the Houthi anti-ship ballistic missile and drones to US, coalition, and merchant vessels in the region. They emphasized the importance of protecting freedom of navigation and ensuring the safety and security of international waters.

The UK Ministry of Defense has, thus far, not responded to queries seeking further details on the engagement. The successful interception by the HMS Diamond demonstrates the crucial role played by the Royal Navy in safeguarding maritime interests and maintaining security in the region.