The Iranian-backed Houthis, who management massive areas of Yemen, fired anti-ship ballistic missiles at a US warship in response to the hijacking of a industrial vessel within the Gulf of Aden on 27 November. The missiles missed their tracks.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that “At 0141 on 27 November Sanaa time, two ballistic missiles have been fired from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen towards the final location of USS MASON (DDG 87) and M/V CENTRAL PARK.”
“The missiles landed within the Gulf of Aden roughly ten nautical miles from the ships,” CENTCOM reported.
The USS Mason, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer assigned to the Dwight D. Eisenhower Provider Strike Group, responded to an try by “an unknown entity” to hijack the M/V Central Park, a Liberian-flagged tanker. The crew of the Central Park “barricaded themselves within the tanker’s citadel, an armored panic room,” and the hijackers left the ship because the USS Mason and a Japanese warship closed in, USNI Information reported. 5 pirates, most likely Houthis, have been captured.
The Houthis, generally known as Ansar Allah, are recognized to own anti-ship ballistic missiles provided by Iran. In September 2022, the Houthis paraded the missiles.
The Houthis, who’ve a historical past of harassing and attacking industrial vessels working within the Gulf of Aden, the Bab al Mandeb Strait and the Crimson Sea, have stepped up assaults on delivery over the previous week. On November 14, the Houthis threatened to sink industrial vessels, prompting the Worldwide Maritime Safety Assemble to challenge a warning to ships crusing via the important Bab al Mandeb Strait and the Crimson Sea.
“We’ll sink your ships,” the Houthis declared in Arabic, English and Hebrew in a graphic launched on November 14 displaying an Israeli industrial vessel in flames.
On November 19, 5 days after issuing the risk, the Houthis hijacked the Galaxy Chief, a Bahamian-flagged cargo ship, because it was underway within the Crimson Sea. On November 23, the Houthis are believed to have unsuccessfully attacked the CMA CGM Symi, a Malta-flagged container ship, with a drone because it traveled within the Indian Ocean.
The Houthis, in an try and weaken Israel because the latter battles Hamas and allied terrorist teams in Gaza, have launched a collection of drone, ballistic and cruise missile assaults towards Israeli territory. US warships have shot down Houthi weapons methods at the least twice. As well as, the Houthis shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial car off the coast of Yemen on 8 November.
The US has not but responded to the Houthi provocations because the Biden administration seeks to forestall a wider battle from breaking out within the area. Along with the assaults on US navy personnel by the Houthis, Iranian-backed militias have launched dozens of assaults on US bases in Iraq and Syria.
The Houthis haven’t formally launched an announcement claiming accountability for attacking the USS Mason and the M/V Central Park.
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