Middle East and North Africa
Warships responded to Maersk Hangzhou's call when they came under fire from the Houthi rebel-controlled part of Yemen, U.S. Central Command said
Guardianship staff and agencies
Sunday, December 31, 2023, 02:58 GMT
An American destroyer shot down two anti-ship missiles fired from Yemen on Saturday while responding to a call for help from a separately hit container ship, US Central Command (Centcom) said.
Centcom said the U.S. destroyers Gravely and Laboon responded to a request for assistance from the Maersk Hangzhou, a Singapore-flagged, Danish-owned and operated container ship that reported being hit by a missile while transiting the Red Sea.
As they responded, missiles were fired at the ships from territory controlled by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, Centcom said.
The Gravelys fired the missiles, Centcom said, describing it as “23. “illegal attack by the Houthis on international shipping” since November 19th.
The risk of a broader Middle East war increases | Christopher S. Chivvis
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it had received a report of an incident in the Red Sea about 55 nautical miles southwest of the Yemeni port of Hodeidah. The captain of an unidentified ship reported “a loud bang accompanied by a flash of lightning on the port bow of the ship” and several explosions in the area. No damage was reported and all crew were safe. The ship had cleared the area at full speed to the next port of call.
The Houthis have targeted ships in the vital Red Sea shipping route in attacks they say are supporting Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel is waging war to root out the militant group Hamas.
In response to the attacks, several shipping companies have stopped operating through the Red Sea and are instead taking the longer journey around Africa.
Yemeni rebels have said they are targeting Israel and Israel-linked ships. The US set up a multinational naval task force to protect the Red Sea transit route, which carries up to 12% of world trade.
With Agence France-Presse and Portal
{{#Ticker}}
{{top left}}
{{bottom left}}
{{top right}}
{{bottom right}}
{{#goalExceededMarkerPercentage}}{{/goalExceededMarkerPercentage}}{{/ticker}}
{{Headline}}
{{#paragraphs}}
{{.}}
{{/paragraphs}}{{highlightedText}}
{{#choiceCards}}
One-time, monthly, yearly
Other
{{/choiceCards}}We will be in touch to remind you to contribute. Watch for a message in your inbox. If you have any questions about contributing, please contact us.