Ballistic missiles fired from Yemen were fired toward the Navy destroyer Mason on Sunday as the warship responded to a distress call from an Israeli-linked merchant ship in the Gulf of Aden, according to U.S. Central Command.
The incident is the latest in which destroyers in the Middle East encountered drones and missiles that U.S. officials said were fired by Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen. This also comes as US forces in Iraq and Syria have faced multiple attacks in recent weeks as part of the Israel-Hamas war.
The Mason and other allied ships and aircraft from CENTCOM’s anti-piracy task force came to the aid of the merchant ship Central Park on Sunday after calls that an “unknown entity” had attacked the ship, according to combatant command.
“Upon arrival, coalition elements requested the release of the vessel,” CENTCOM said in a statement. “Five armed people then left the ship and tried to escape in their small boat. The Mason pursued the attackers, which eventually led to them surrendering.”
On November 26, USS MASON (DDG 87), along with allied ships from our Anti-Piracy Coalition (TF 151) and associated aircraft, responded to a distress call from M/V CENTRAL PARK, a merchant vessel They were attacked by an unknown entity. At arrival,… pic.twitter.com/ASmM3b0xrf
– US Central Command (@CENTCOM) November 27, 2023
As the Mason and other allied forces ended their support for the merchant ship, “two ballistic missiles were fired from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen toward the destroyer’s general location,” CENTCOM said.
“The missiles landed in the Gulf of Aden, approximately 10 nautical miles from the ships,” the command statement said.
Pentagon spokesman Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said Monday that those who boarded Central Park were trying to take control of the ship and gain access to the crew cabin. In the meantime, the merchant ship’s crew “locked themselves in a safe port,” he told reporters on Monday.
Ryder said the armed individuals, who are Somali, fled the scene in a small boat after the Mason’s arrival. But the destroyer dispatched a visit, board, search and seizure team to apprehend the individuals, and all are currently being held aboard the Mason.
The crew of the Liberian-flagged merchant ship, which has ties to Israel, is safe. None of the ships suffered any damage or injuries.
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The Mason is part of the carrier strike group from the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower, which crossed the Strait of Hormuz into the Arabian Gulf on Sunday to support freedom of navigation patrols and other missions in the region.
The aircraft entered Middle East waters on November 4, the first time an aircraft operated in the CENTCOM area of responsibility since the end of the Afghanistan War in 2021.
“Security of maritime areas is critical to regional stability,” Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM commander, said in a statement Monday. “We will continue to work with allies and partners to ensure the security of international shipping lanes.”
Twice in recent weeks fellow destroyer Thomas Hudner has shot down aerial drones that officials said were launched from Yemen. Additionally, in October, the Navy destroyer Carney shot down cruise missiles and drones that U.S. officials also attributed to Yemen.
Mason’s crew received combat mission badges after Houthi rebels fired on the warship and other ships in 2016.
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Four ship’s crews receive the Combat Action Ribbon. Sailors receiving the CAR came under fire after Houthi rebels in Yemen fired rockets at their ships last fall. It is the first time since the Gulf War that the Navy has presented the award for operations in international waters.Yemen’s internationally recognized government, based in nearby Aden, blamed rebels for the seizure in a statement issued by its state news agency.
“The Yemeni government has renewed its condemnation of maritime piracy committed by the terrorist Houthi militias with the support of the Iranian regime, most recently the Central Park hijacking,” the statement said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.