U.S. Navy helicopters engaged and sank three Houthi “small boats” near the Red Sea after their crew attempted to board the Maersk Hangzhou, a container ship. The incident occurred early morning local time on Sunday, marking the second attack on the vessel within 24 hours.
According to the U.S. military, four Houthi-controlled vessels from Yemen approached the Maersk Hangzhou and opened fire, coming within meters of the commercial ship. In response to a distress call from the crew, helicopters from nearby U.S. warships, including the USS Eisenhower aircraft carrier and USS Gravely destroyer, swiftly intervened.
As the helicopters issued verbal warnings, they were fired upon by the Houthi boats. In self-defense, the helicopters returned fire, sinking three of the four small boats and neutralizing the crews. The fourth boat managed to escape the area.
A Houthi spokesperson claimed that the Maersk Hangzhou had ignored warning calls, and 10 members of their group were either dead or missing. This incident is part of an escalating series of attacks by Houthi forces in the Red Sea, targeting vessels passing through the vital shipping lane.
The Maersk Hangzhou, registered in Singapore and operated by a Danish firm, was attacked at around 06:30 Yemeni time (03:30 GMT). Mounted weapons and small arms were used by the Houthi boats, which came within 20 meters (66 feet) of the container ship. The ship’s crew, in a valiant effort, issued a distress call, and a security team returned fire.
This is the second assault on the Maersk Hangzhou in 24 hours. On Saturday, anti-ship missiles were fired from Houthi-controlled areas, prompting the destroyers USS Gravely and USS Laboon to respond.
Maersk, one of the world’s largest shipping companies, has temporarily suspended sailings through the Red Sea for 48 hours. The firm had only recently resumed using the route after the launch of a mission by the U.S. and its allies to protect ships in the area.
The Red Sea attacks by Houthi forces have led several shipping companies, including Maersk, to reroute vessels around the Horn of Africa, avoiding the Houthi-controlled areas. These attacks have raised concerns about potential disruptions to vital shipping lanes and, consequently, an impact on global trade and oil prices.
The rise in Houthi attacks prompted the U.S. to launch Operation Prosperity Guardian in December, an international coalition aimed at safeguarding shipping in the region. Despite these efforts, the Houthis have continued their attacks, emphasizing the need for ongoing vigilance in the face of this maritime threat.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
