Yemeni rebels attempted to board a container ship belonging to the shipping company Maersk. The American navy responded by destroying three of their boats, we learned this Sunday, December 31. Ten Houthis were killed in these hostilities. Since October 7, the date of the Hamas attack in Israel, this type of attack has increased.
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This is the 23rd attack against ships of the Danish company Maersk in a little over a month. Since the start of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Houthis have increased hostilities, showing their support for the Palestinians in Gaza.
Attacked this Sunday, the crew of the Maersk Hangzhou, a Singapore-flagged container ship, launched a distress call. American helicopters and warships responded, sinking three of the attackers’ speedboats while the fourth fled. Four survivors are said to have arrived in Hodeida.
According to a press release from the American military command in the Middle East (Centcom), it was after new Houthi fire targeting American helicopters that the latter “ responded in self-defense, sinking three of the four small ships, and killing the crews », the fourth boat leaving the area.
Iranian-backed Houthi small boats attack merchant vessel and US Navy helicopters in Southern Red Sea
On Dec. 31 at 6:30am (Sanaa time) the container ship MAERSK HANGZHOU issued a second distress call in less than 24 hours reporting being under attack by four Iranian-backed… pic.twitter.com/pj8NAzjbVF
— US Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 31, 2023
Yahya Sarieh, spokesperson for the Houthi armed forces, confirmed that ten Yemeni fighters were killed. “ We urge never to participate in this dangerous American behavior, as it would have negative consequences that could affect everyone “, he warns.
This is the first deadly strike against the Houthis since the establishment of a maritime force under the leadership of the United States in the Red Sea a week ago. And it’s probably not the last.
The British Air Force, according to the newspaper Haaretzwould itself prepare to strike targets of the Houthi rebels in cooperation with the United States, we learned this Sunday.
On the social network X, in London, the Minister of Foreign Affairs confides having spoken to his Iranian counterpart. “ I have made clear that Iran shares responsibility for preventing these attacks, given its long-standing support for the Houthis », he writes.
All members of the Maersk crew emerged unscathed from this Sunday’s hostilities. No damage was recorded on the container ship.
But this is the second attack reported against this boat in the space of 24 hours. It had already been the target of missiles on Saturday on this vital passage between Asia and Europe. An American destroyer, theUSS Gravelythen shot down two anti-ship ballistic missiles fired from Yemen, according to Centcom.
USS GRAVELY shoots down two anti-ship ballistic missiles while responding to Houthi attack on merchant vessel.
Today at approximately 8:30 pm (Sanaa time), the container ship MAERSK HANGZHOU reported that they were struck by a missile while transiting the Southern Red Sea. Tea… pic.twitter.com/nUgifhkdC8
— US Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 31, 2023
From now on, the main companies are avoiding the Suez Canal. As a reminder, 12% of global maritime trade passes through this major maritime route.
The Danish maritime transport giant itself announced the suspension for 48 hours of the transit of its fleet through the strait. Its ships had just returned to the area, like those of the French shipowner CMA-CGM, reassured by the deployment of the multinational naval force.
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