Fox News: Attack on Saudi Frigate May Have Been Meant for US Warship

The suicide attack carried out on a Saudi frigate Monday was possibly meant for a U.S. warship, according to Fox News. 

Houthi rebels, which are backed but not supplied or supported militarily by Iran, sent three "suicide boats" to a Saudi frigate off the coast of Yemen, which detonated and caused the deaths of two sailors. A news agency controlled by the rebels claimed the ship had been hit by a guided missile, according to BBC News. 

Due to recent video analysis, Fox News' American intelligence sources believe the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber ramming a small boat into the rear of the Saudi ship. United States Naval Institute News reports the same, also from an unnamed defense official. A U.S. Navy official confirmed to USNI News that there was no evidence that a missile was fired at the ship.

However, two unnamed U.S. defense officials told Fox News that they believe the attack was a "dress rehearsal" or a real attack against what they thought was an American warship, similar to the ones carried out in the same region last October.

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