US Navy helis destroy Houthi boats in Red Sea after hijack attempt.
US Navy helicopters responded to a distress call from a container ship, the Maersk Hangzhou, in the Red Sea after four boats from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen attempted to board the ship. The Houthi boats, armed with mounted weapons and small arms, fired upon the container ship and came within 20 meters of it. In self-defense, US Navy helicopters sank three of the boats, resulting in the death of the crews. The fourth boat fled the area. This incident follows a series of attacks by Houthi forces on ships in the Red Sea since November, including drone and missile attacks. The Houthi rebels have claimed that these attacks are in response to the war in Gaza and are directed at vessels linked to Israel. The targeted container ship, the Maersk Hangzhou, is registered to Singapore and operated by a Danish firm. The attack on the ship occurred at approximately 06:30 Yemeni time. The US Navy ships, USS Eisenhower and USS Gravely, were nearby and responded to the distress call. While issuing verbal calls to the small boats, the helicopters were fired upon. In self-defense, the helicopters returned fire and sank three of the boats. The fourth boat fled the area. The container ship reported being hit by an unknown object but indicated no indication of fire on board. The ship’s operator, Maersk, has suspended sailings through the Red Sea for 48 hours. This incident marks the second attack on the Maersk Hangzhou within 24 hours. The US Navy has recently launched a global patrol to protect ships in the Red Sea. The rise in Houthi attacks has caused many shipping companies to divert their vessels away from the Red Sea and take longer routes around the Cape of Good Hope. To reach the Suez Canal, ships must pass through the Bab al-Mandab Strait and this area has been a target for Houthi attacks. The Houthi rebels claim to only target “Israel-linked” commercial ships in response to the war in Gaza. US Navy Vice Admiral Brad Cooper expressed concern that the Houthi attacks continue despite the new international taskforce designed to combat them. The Red Sea is a vital shipping lane that connects markets in Europe with Asia and any disruptions in this area can result in a rise in prices, particularly for oil and liquefied natural gas shipments from the Middle East.
