Iran says it is deploying two warships off Yemen

In this Thursday Oct. 13 photo released by U.S. Navy, the guided missile destroyer USS Nitze (DDG 94) launches a strike against coastal sites in Houthi-controlled territory on Yemen’s Red Sea coast. U.S.-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles destroyed three coastal radar sites in Houthi-controlled territory on Yemen’s Red Sea Coast early Thursday, officials said, a retaliatory action that followed two incidents this week in which missiles were fired at U.S. Navy ships. (U.S. Navy via AP)

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran says it will deploy two warships into the Bab el-Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden, making the announcement just hours after a U.S. missile strike on Yemen.

The semi-official Tasnim news agency announced Thursday the movement of the Alvand and the Bushehr.

It described the maneuver as part of a regular anti-piracy patrol off Yemen and East Africa.

But the announcement came just after the U.S. carried out strikes for the first time against Yemen’s Shiite Houthi rebels, who are supported by Iran. The American strikes hit three radar facilities belonging to the Houthis after missile fire from rebel-held areas hit near the USS Mason, a U.S. warship deployed off Yemen.