The U.S. Navy destroyed three boats carrying Houthi rebels within the Crimson Sea on Sunday after fighters tried to board a container ship within the second assault towards the vessel this weekend.
Helicopters from two destroyers, the united statesEisenhower and USS Gravely, have been dispatched after the Maersk Hangzhou issued a misery name at 6:30 a.m. Sunday morning, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on X, the ship’s second request for assist in 24 hours.
4 small boats arriving from Yemen had received to inside 20 meters of the Danish-owned vessel and tried to board it, in line with CENTCOM, and fired on U.S. helicopters as they approached. ”The U.S. Navy helicopters returned fireplace in self-defense, sinking three of the 4 small boats, and killing the crews,” it stated, including that there was ”no injury to U.S. personnel or gear.”
On Saturday, Washington stated it had shot down two anti-ship ballistic missiles after the Maersk Hangzhou issued its first misery name and reported being struck by a Houthi missile.
The UK Maritime Commerce Operations group stated there have been no casualties within the transport vessel’s crew.
Since November, Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have launched over 20 assaults towards ships within the Crimson Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital transport lane between Europe and Asia the place an estimated 15 p.c of worldwide commerce passes. A number of transport strains and oil main BP have suspended operations within the space because of this.
The Houthis have stated the strikes are in help of Palestinians in Gaza, the place Israel is finishing up large-scale bombardments with U.S. backing in response to Hamas militants’ lethal assault towards civilians in early October. In response, the U.S. arrange a multinational naval taskforce to guard the route, which has been joined by international locations together with Denmark, Greece, the Netherlands and the U.Ok.