The US Navy has taken action against Houthi “small boats” that tried to board a Danish container ship in the Red Sea. Four vessels from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen fired upon the Maersk Hangzhou, getting within meters of the ship, prompting helicopters from the USS Eisenhower to respond to a distress call and ultimately sinking three of the boats “in self-defense.”
The crews of the boats were killed and a fourth boat fled the area. The Houthi spokesperson claimed the vessel had refused to respond to warning calls and that 10 of its group members were killed or missing after the incident. The commercial ship targeted, the Maersk Hangzhou, is registered to Singapore and is operated and owned by a Danish firm, according to US Central Command (Centcom).
Houthi forces have been attacking ships in the Red Sea since November, launching over 100 drone and missile attacks on vessels passing through the vital shipping lane. The rise in Houthi attacks over several weeks has led many shipping firms, including Maersk, to divert their vessels away from the Red Sea, opting instead to travel around the Horn of Africa. The attacks could potentially lead to a rise in prices, as the Red Sea is one of the most important routes for oil and liquefied natural gas shipments produced in the Middle East.
