Two U.S. officials have denied the claim made by the Houthi group of Yemen on Saturday, that their forces attacked the U.S. aircraft carriers Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Red Sea. Two U.S. officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that this claim was false.

In November, the Houthis, who are aligned with Iran and have launched missiles and drones on this key waterway to show solidarity with Palestinian militants fighting in Gaza where Israel is waging a war that has lasted for more than eight months.

In over 70 attacks, Houthis have sunk or seized two ships, and at least killed three seafarers.

The Houthi group had earlier said that its forces attacked the Eisenhower at the Red Sea, and the operation was a success. However, it did not elaborate. The group said they also attacked a Transworld Navigator commercial ship in the Arabian Sea. The group did not specify when the attacks occurred.

In a statement, the Houthis claimed that a missile had directly hit the Transworld Navigator. (Reporting and editing by Cynthia Osterman; Phil Stewart)