Yemen's Houthis launch their largest Red Sea aerial attack, but no damage is reported

U.S. Navy ships travel through the Bab al-Mandeb strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, in August. (Mass Communications Spc. 2nd Class Moises Sandoval/U.S. Navy via AP)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Yemen's Houthi rebels fired their largest-ever barrage of drones and missiles targeting shipping in the Red Sea, forcing the United States and British navies to shoot down the projectiles in a major naval engagement, authorities said Wednesday. No damage was immediately reported.

The attack by the Iranian-backed Houthis came despite a planned United Nations Security Council vote later Wednesday to potentially condemn and demand an immediate halt to the attacks by the rebels, who say their assaults are aimed at stopping Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.