US Navy helicopters fire at Houthi rebels in latest Red Sea clash

"The US Navy helicopters returned fire in self-defence," sinking three of the four boats and killing the people on board while the fourth boat fled the area, the US Central Command said. No harm to US personnel or equipment, or casualties from the cargo ship, were reported. The Houthis acknowledged that 10 of their fighters were killed in the confrontation and warned of consequences. In Washington, a spokesman for the White House National Security Council sidestepped a question about the possibility of a preemptive strike against the Houthis to safeguard commercial shipping in the vital waterway. "I won't say what's…