A Phalanx weapons protection cannon is mounted on the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Gravely on March 14, 2023. The U.S. army mentioned Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, it shot down two anti-ship ballistic missiles fired towards a container ship by Yemen’s Houthi rebels within the Pink Sea and thwarted an assault by small boat crews on the identical ship later.
John C. Clark/AP file picture
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John C. Clark/AP file picture
A Phalanx weapons protection cannon is mounted on the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Gravely on March 14, 2023. The U.S. army mentioned Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, it shot down two anti-ship ballistic missiles fired towards a container ship by Yemen’s Houthi rebels within the Pink Sea and thwarted an assault by small boat crews on the identical ship later.
John C. Clark/AP file picture
BEIRUT — The U.S. army mentioned Sunday it shot down two anti-ship ballistic missiles fired towards a container ship by Yemen’s Houthi rebels within the Pink Sea. Hours later, 4 boats tried to assault the identical ship, however U.S. forces opened fireplace, killing a number of of the armed crews, the U.S. Central Command mentioned. Nobody was injured on the ship.
The Singapore-flagged Maersk Hangzhou reported it had already been hit by a missile Saturday night time whereas transiting the Southern Pink Sea and requested help, CENTCOM mentioned in a press release. The usGravely and USS Laboon responded to the decision for assist, and the Denmark-owned vessel was reportedly seaworthy and no accidents have been famous, the assertion added.
”That is the twenty third unlawful assault by the Houthis on worldwide delivery since Nov. 19,” CENTCOM mentioned.
In one other assertion, CENTCOM mentioned the identical ship issued a further misery name a couple of second assault ”by 4 Iranian-backed Houthi small boats.” The attackers fired small arms weapons on the Maersk Hangzhou, attending to inside 20 meters (about 65 ft) of the vessel, and tried to it, CENTCOM mentioned.
A contract-embarked safety group on the ship returned fireplace, the central command mentioned. U.S. helicopters from the usDwight D. Eisenhower plane service and Gravely responded to the misery name and whereas issuing verbal warnings to the attackers, the small boat crews opened fireplace on the helicopters utilizing small arms, the assertion mentioned.
”The U.S. Navy helicopters returned fireplace in self-defense,” sinking three of the 4 boats, killing the crews whereas the fourth boat fled the world, CENTCOM mentioned, and no injury to U.S. personnel or gear was reported.
The Iran-backed Houthis have claimed assaults on ships within the Pink Sea that they are saying are both linked to Israel or heading to Israeli ports. They are saying their assaults intention to finish Israel’s air-and-ground offensive focusing on the Gaza Strip following the assault by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Oct.7.
On Saturday, the highest commander of U.S. naval forces within the Center East mentioned Houthi rebels have proven no indicators of ending their ”reckless” assaults on industrial ships within the Pink Sea at the same time as extra nations be a part of the worldwide maritime mission to guard vessels within the very important waterway and commerce visitors begins to choose up.
For the reason that Pentagon introduced Operation Prosperity Guardian to counter the assaults simply over 10 days in the past, 1,200 service provider ships have traveled by means of the Pink Sea area, and none has been hit by drone or missile strikes, Vice Adm. Brad Cooper mentioned in an Related Press interview.