The U.S. military said late Monday it destroyed an anti-ship ballistic missile fired by Houthi militants in Yemen toward ships in the Gulf of Aden.

U.S. Central Command said in a statement that the missile was likely targeting the U.S.-flagged, U.S.-owned container ship MV Yorktown, which was being escorted by a U.S. Navy destroyer.

“It was determined the ABSM presented an imminent threat to U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels in the region,” CENTCOM said.

The United States is leading a coalition effort to help protect the key shipping route through the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea from attacks by the Yemen-based, Iran-backed Houthis.

The Houthis, designated by the U.S. as a terror group, have said their campaign targeting ships is in solidarity with the Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.