US Navy helicopters destroy 3 boats in Red Sea operated by Houthi rebels

Middle East, News, US January 1, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

The United States Navy destroyed at least 3 boats in the Red Sea on December 31, 2023, for waging an attack on a container ship in the region. The boats, reportedly operated by the Houthi rebels, were destroyed using the U.S. Navy helicopters.

Helicopters from the two U.S. Nav warships, the USS Eisenhower and USS Gravely, tracked down the “Iranian-backed Houthi small boats” in the Red Sea after responding to an SOS call from a commercial container ship.

According to the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), a Singapore-flagged vessel Maersk Hangzhou was reportedly being hijacked by the Houthi boats. The U.S. Navy helicopters sunk three of the four attacking boats, killing several of their crew members, while the fourth boat escaped.

The U.S. military officials reported that U.S. warships responded to a distress call from a merchant vessel. “The small boats, originating from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, fired crew-served and small-arms weapons at the Maersk Hangzhou, getting to within 20 meters of the vessel, and attempted to board the vessel,” CENTCOM said in a statement.

After responding to the distress call, the helicopters were “in the process of issuing verbal calls to the small boats, the small boats fired upon the U.S. helicopters with crew-served weapons and small arms,” the statement added.

*^{A Houthi fighter stands on the Galaxy Leader cargo ship in the Red Sea in this photo released November 20, 2023. (Image Credit: Houthi Military Media/via Reuters)}*

According to Maersk, the Danish shipping company handling the commercial vessel, the ship had been traveling on Saturday evening about 55 nautical miles southwest of Al Hudaydah, Yemen, at the time of the attack. The 14,000-container vessel continued north afterward, heading toward Port Suez, Egypt.

“Maersk can also confirm that after the initial attack on the vessel, four boats approached the vessel and engaged fire in an expected attempt to board the vessel,” said Adhish Alawani, a Maersk spokesperson. Alawani also reported that all the crew members aboard Maersk Hangzhou were safe. He also added that the company has suspended operations in the Red Sea for the next 48 hours following the attack.

Red Sea attacks

Amid the conflict between Israel and Gaza, Yemen’s Houthis, aligned with Iran, have consistently attacked ships in the Red Sea that they suspect are affiliated with Israel. This has led prominent international shipping companies like Maersk to cease operations on that maritime route. The Houthis have declared their intention to persist with these strikes until Israel halts its assaults on Gaza.

On December 19, the United States announced a worldwide naval task force aimed at securing shipping routes in the Red Sea, where approximately 12 percent of global trade transits.

*^{The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) transits through the Suez Canal, on October 18, 2023. (Image Credit: Aaron Lau/U.S. Navy)}*

Despite the announcement that 20 countries have reportedly endorsed the coalition, only the United Kingdom has actively provided warships. This situation has left the United States essentially operating independently in its efforts against the Houthis.

The Red Sea is one of the world’s most important shipping lanes as it links markets in Europe with Asia. Analysts have warned the attacks and disruption in the shipping lines would result in a sharp rise in the prices in the European market, as it is also one of the most important routes for oil and liquefied natural gas shipments produced in the Middle East.