U.S. Navy helicopters were attacked by small boats carrying Houthi militants while responding to an assault on a commercial ship in the Red Sea on Sunday morning, according to U.S. officials.
The incident began when a Maersk container ship, the Hangzhou, sent out a distress signal around 6:30 a.m., reporting an attack by four small boats, as stated by U.S. Central Command.
These boats, launched from Houthi-dominated regions in Yemen, aggressively approached Hangzhou, firing weapons and attempting to board it.
“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,” Central Command said.
In response, helicopters from the USS Eisenhower and the Gravely arrived at the scene and tried to verbally warn the small boats. However, the boats attacked the helicopters, leading U.S. servicemen to retaliate.
They sank three of the attacking boats, resulting in the deaths of their crews, while the fourth boat escaped.
The U.S. Navy intercepted a drone and a ballistic missile fired by Houthi rebels in Yemen in the southern Red Sea on Thursday, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
“No ships in the area were damaged and no injuries were reported,” CENTCOM said in a statement on Twitter. “This is the 22nd attempt by the Houthis to attack international ships since October 19.”
The United States also announced new sanctions against Houthi-linked individuals and entities in Yemen and Turkey in response to the attacks.
