The US military has reported the sinking of three Houthi boats in the Red Sea, marking a significant escalation in the conflict. The clash resulted in the deaths of ten Yemeni armed group members. This incident unfolded amidst heightened tensions surrounding the strategic trade route.
Recent weeks have seen an uptick in Houthi assaults on vessels navigating the Red Sea. These attacks were purportedly intended to pressure Israel into halting its destructive campaign in Gaza, which has claimed the lives of over 21,000 Palestinians in the region.
Under Operation Prosperity Guardian, US destroyers, along with some international partners, have endeavored to curb the Houthi assaults. However, certain participating nations have distanced themselves from this initiative.
The clash in the Red Sea marks the first significant direct confrontation between the US military and Houthi fighters. Here is a breakdown of the sequence of events:
What Transpired on Sunday?
At 6:30 am Yemen time (03:30 GMT) on Sunday, the Denmark-owned and Singapore-flagged container ship Maersk Hangzhou issued a distress call, reporting an attack by four "Houthi small boats," according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM). The incident occurred as the Maersk vessel traversed the Southern Red Sea.
In response to the distress call, helicopters from two warships, the USS Eisenhower and USS Gravely, were dispatched to aid the Maersk ship. CENTCOM revealed that the crew of the USS Gravely destroyer successfully intercepted two antiship ballistic missiles fired at the Maersk vessel.
Reason Behind Sinking Houthi Boats
Following the missile interception, four small boats launched an attack on the cargo ship using small arms fire, and Houthi fighters attempted to board the vessel, as reported by the US Navy. The Navy issued warnings to the fighters to steer clear of the ship. However, when the helicopters came under fire, they retaliated, sinking three of the attacking boats and resulting in the deaths of Houthi crew members. The fourth boat managed to escape the area unharmed, while US personnel and equipment remained unaffected, reports read.
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