The USS Thomas Hudner, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, fires during training March 30, 2023, in the Atlantic Ocean. (Tyler Thompson/U.S. Navy)

WASHINGTON — The guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner shot down a drone launched from Yemen over the Red Sea early Wednesday, according to two defense officials.

“While transiting the international waters of the Red Sea, the crew of the USS Thomas Hudner engaged a drone that originated from Yemen and was heading in the direction of the ship. There were no U.S. casualties or any damage to the ship,” a defense official said in a statement on the condition of anonymity.

It was not clear Wednesday who is responsible for launching the drone. Earlier this week, the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen threatened to attack ships in the Red Sea.

This is the second intercept by a U.S. Navy vessel since Hamas militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7. Last month, the USS Carney shot down several drones and missiles fired by Houthi forces in the direction of Israel.

The latest incident comes after the Houthis shot down a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone last week over the Red Sea.

The U.S. has sent an additional 1,200 troops to the Middle East in recent weeks along with two aircraft carrier strike groups and more aircraft to support Israel in its fight against Hamas and deter an escalation of the conflict in the region.

The United States has also carried out three airstrikes in Syria at sites tied to Iran-backed militants. Most recently, two strikes occurred in Syria on Sunday. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the strikes targeted a training facility near the city of Albu Kamal and a safe house near the city of Mayadeen. The previous strikes occurred Oct. 26 and Nov. 8.

Stars and Stripes reporter J.P. Lawrence contributed to this report.