The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group transits the Strait of Hormuz, Nov. 26, 2023. Helicopters assigned to the strike group sank three boats operated by Houthi militants who were firing on a civilian cargo ship. (Merissa Daley/U.S. Navy)
U.S. Navy helicopters on Sunday sank three boats operated by Iranian-backed militants that were firing on a civilian cargo ship in the Red Sea, U.S. Central Command said.
Four small boats belonging to the Houthis from Yemen fired small arms and crew-served weapons at the Maersk Hangzhou, at about 6:30 a.m. local time, a CENTCOM statement said.
The Maersk Hangzhou issued a distress call as the Houthi vessels came within 20 yards and attempted to forcibly board the cargo ship, the statement said. Contractors aboard the container ship fired back at the Houthi fighters, CENTCOM said.
U.S. helicopters flew to the cargo ship’s aid and issued verbal warnings to the Houthi boats, which then opened fire on the helicopters, the statement said. The U.S. helicopters returned fire, sinking three boats and killing their crews, CENTCOM said.
The fourth boat fled the area, according to the statement.
The helicopters are from the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and the destroyer USS Gravely. Military officials said there was no damage to the aircraft or their crew.
The incident occurred northwest of Al Hudaydah, Yemen, the official account for United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said Sunday morning in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. The post said the organization also received reports of an attack by small boats on a merchant vessel, with U.S. warships responding.
The Houthis said 10 members of their naval forces were killed in the incident, via a statement on X.
The fight on Sunday was the second incident in the past 24 hours involving the cargo ship. USS Gravely shot down two missiles fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen after responding with the destroyer USS Laboon to an assistance call at 8:30 a.m. Saturday from the Maersk Hangzhou.
The Maersk Hangzhou had reported being struck by a missile in what the U.S. military said was the 23rd attack on shipping by Houthi militants since Nov. 19.
The militant group, which controls much of Yemen and receives Iranian support, have said it wants to strike shipping in the Red Sea that supports Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
