Yemen Houthi rebels deny attacking US warship

"These allegations were baseless and the army as well popular forces have nothing to do with targeting the US ship," the Houthis said in a statement carried by the agency.

"The US allegations just came in the context of creating false justifications to pave the way for the Saudi-led coalition to escalate their aggression attacks (against Houthis) and to cover crimes committed by the aggression coalition against the Yemeni people and the all-out blockade," the statement said.

The Houthis said that their army and popular forces are "in full readiness to confront any further aggression" under whatever justification.