The US Navy claimed Sunday that it sank three vessels operated by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels after they attacked a container ship in the Red Sea.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement that after the Houthis fired on the US helicopters, they returned fire in self-defense, sinking three of four small boats that had come within 20 metres of the ship and killing the crews.
“The fourth boat fled the area”, the statement continued.
According to CENTCOM, the navy reacted to a call for help from the Maersk Hangzhou, a Singapore-flagged, Denmark-owned and operated container ship that reported being attacked for a second time in 24 hours while transiting the Red Sea.
The US Central Command tweeted, “On Dec. 31 at 6:30 am (Sanaa time) the container ship MAERSK HANGZHOU issued a second distress call in less than 24 hours reporting being under attack by four Iranian-backed Houthi small boats”, through its official ‘X’ handle.
“The small boats, originating from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, fired crew-served and small arms weapons at the MAERSK HANGZHOU, getting to within 20 meters of the vessel, and attempted to board the vessel”, the US Central Command continued in its tweet.
It went on to say, “A contract-embedded security team on the MAERSK HANZGHOU returned fire. U.S. helicopters from the USS EISENHOWER (CVN 69) and GRAVELY (DDG 107) responded to the distress call and in the process of issuing verbal calls to the small boats, the small boats fired upon the U.S. helicopters with crew served weapons and small arms”.
“The U.S. Navy helicopters returned fire in self-defense, sinking three of the four small boats, and killing the crews. The fourth boat fled the area. There was no damage to U.S. personnel or equipment”, the US Central Command added in its tweet.
Iranian-backed Houthi small boats attack merchant vessel and U.S. Navy helicopters in Southern Red Sea
On Dec. 31 at 6:30am (Sanaa time) the container ship MAERSK HANGZHOU issued a second distress call in less than 24 hours reporting being under attack by four Iranian-backed… pic.twitter.com/pj8NAzjbVF
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 31, 2023
The ship had previously been targeted by two anti-ship ballistic missiles that were shot down by the US military.
Also read: American Destroyer Shoots Down Houthi Anti-Ship Missiles Twice In 3 Days
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