The USA army says it has sunk three boats waging an assault on a container ship within the Crimson Sea because it continues its patrol mission to counter threats from Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
Helicopters from two US warships – the USS Eisenhower and USS Gravely – shot on the “Iranian-backed Houthi small boats” in self-defence on Sunday morning whereas responding to an SOS name from the Singapore-flagged vessel Maersk Hangzhou, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated. The US helicopters sunk three of the boats, killing a number of of their crew, it stated. A fourth boat escaped.
Maersk Hangzhou issued its misery name after it was fired at by the Houthi boats, which got here as shut as 20m (65 ft) and in addition tried to board it, CENTCOM stated in an announcement on X, previously often known as Twitter.
Because the US helicopters responded, they had been additionally shot at by the Houthi boats, prompting them to return fireplace, added the CENTCOM assertion.
Iranian-backed Houthi small boats assault service provider vessel and U.S. Navy helicopters in Southern Crimson Sea
On Dec. 31 at 6:30am (Sanaa time) the container ship MAERSK HANGZHOU issued a second misery name in lower than 24 hours reporting being beneath assault by 4 Iranian-backed… pic.twitter.com/pj8NAzjbVF
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 31, 2023
It was the second alleged Houthi assault on the Maersk Hangzhou in lower than 24 hours. Late on Saturday evening, CENTCOM stated it shot down two ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis because it responded to a separate missile strike on Maersk Hangzhou.
Within the wake of the assaults, world delivery big Maersk, which owns the vessel, stated it was suspending its operations within the Crimson Sea for 48 hours, highlighting the continued menace to business vessels within the area.
The Houthi group has but to touch upon the incidents.
Crimson Sea assaults
Amid Israel’s battle on Gaza, Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis have repeatedly focused vessels they consider are linked to Israel travelling within the Crimson Sea, pushing main world delivery corporations, resembling Maersk, to desert the waterway. The Houthis have said they will continue their strikes till Israel’s assaults on Gaza cease.
The US on December 19 introduced a worldwide naval process power to safeguard delivery within the contentious waters, via which some 12 % of world commerce passes.
Nevertheless, out of the 20 international locations the US says have agreed to assist the coalition, solely the UK has instantly contributed warships, leaving Washington to successfully “act alone” in opposition to the Houthis, experiences Al Jazeera’s Resul Serdar from Djibouti on the sting of the Crimson Sea.
“There’s little or no naval presence right here,” stated Serdar.
And whereas the presence of the US-led coalition at first appeared to revive some confidence within the route, Houthi assaults on passing vessels haven’t stopped.
More and more, the group is utilizing anti-ship ballistic missiles to focus on vessels, US Vice Admiral Brad Cooper advised The Related Press information company, including that the US is “clear-eyed that the Houthi reckless assaults will doubtless proceed”.
Al Jazeera’s Serdar stated it was clear that the US naval forces have “not been capable of deter the Houthis” to this point, with the group waging assaults much more continuously.
He stated the newest conflict marked a severe escalation as a result of the US not solely sunk Houthi boats however killed Houthi fighters. Such confrontations are sparking “enormous panic” amongst Yemenis who concern the battle might spill into their territory, he stated.
“That might trigger one other battle that may harm the area,” stated Serdar.
The unrest within the Crimson Sea comes as anger grows all through the Center East over the devastation in Gaza, the place not less than 21,822 Palestinians, together with 8,800 kids, have been killed by Israel army assaults in beneath three months.
The battle started when Hamas carried out a shock cross-border assault on Israeli territory on October 7 that killed about 1,140 folks, largely civilians, in response to Israel.
The US, which has offered staunch army and diplomatic backing to Israel all through the battle, has seen its belongings focused as effectively, facing greater than 100 assaults from Iran-backed teams in Syria and Iraq for the reason that outbreak of the battle.
Are communications cables protected?
Amid considerations that Yemen’s Houthis might subsequent goal essential submarine communications cables working beneath the Bab al-Mandeb Strait that energy web networks, Yemen’s Ministry of International Affairs stated it’s dedicated to defending these networks.
“Yemen’s choice to stop the passage of Israeli enemy ships doesn’t concern ships belonging to worldwide corporations licensed by Maritime Affairs – Sanaa to execute marine cable works,” the ministry stated.
Nevertheless, it added that ships “executing submarine cable works” ought to “receive the required permits and approvals”.