The US Navy has destroyed several “small” Houthi boats trying to board a container ship in the Red Sea, officials said.
The incident, confirmed by the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), comes as the US continues its patrol mission to counter threats from the Iran-backed rebel group.
The crew of the Singapore-flagged ship with a capacity to carry 14,000 containers is said to be safe, but the number of militants killed remains unknown.
In a statement, military officials described how they used helicopters to sink three of the militant boats while allowing a fourth to escape.
The attack was the latest by rebels in Yemen to target ships to show support for the Palestinian group Hamas amid the war with Israel.
The US Navy has destroyed several 'small' Houthi boats trying to board a container ship in the Red Sea. Pictured: A 20mm Phalanx CIWS gun defense gun is mounted on the US Navy destroyer USS Gravely, one of the battleships that responded to Sunday's attack
The attack was the latest by militants in Yemen, who targeted ships to show their support for the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas amid the war with Israel. Last month, a Houthi military helicopter flew over the Galaxy Leader cargo ship in the Red Sea
Officials said in a statement around 4 a.m. ET: “On December 31 at 6:30 a.m. (Sanaa time), the container ship Maersk Hangzhou issued a second distress call in less than 24 hours, reporting that it was under attack by four Iranian-backed small Houthi boats.
“The small boats,” the bulletin continued, “fired crew members and small arms fire at the Maersk Hangzhou, within 20 meters of the ship.”
The Houthi-controlled boats then attempted to “board the ship,” officials said, leading a contracted security team that had been aboard the ship to return fire.
“U.S. helicopters from USS Eisenhower and Gravely responded to the distress call,” the statement continued.
'[I]During the process of issuing verbal calls to the small boats, the small boats fired at the American helicopters with crew members operating guns and small arms.
“The US Navy helicopters returned fire in self-defense, sinking three of the four small boats and killing the crew. The fourth boat fled the area. There was no damage to American personnel or equipment.”
Houthi fighters open the cockpit door on the deck of the Galaxy Leader ship in the Red Sea in November
More to follow…