On December 31, at 6:30 am Sanaa time, the container ship MAERSK HANGZHOU faced a second distress call within 24 hours, reporting an attack by four Iranian-backed Houthi small boats in the Southern Red Sea.
Believed to have originated from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, the small boats closed in on the MAERSK HANGZHOU, unleashing a barrage of fire with crew-served and small arms weapons. The attackers managed to approach within 20 meters of the merchant vessel, attempting to board it.
According to the U.S. Central Command, a contracted security team aboard the MAERSK HANGZHOU engaged the assailants, returning fire to fend off the attack. In response to the distress call, U.S. Navy helicopters rushed to the scene.
Iranian-backed Houthi small boats attack merchant vessel and U.S. Navy helicopters in Southern Red Sea
On Dec. 31 at 6:30am (Sanaa time) the container ship MAERSK HANGZHOU issued a second distress call in less than 24 hours reporting being under attack by four Iranian-backed… pic.twitter.com/pj8NAzjbVF
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 31, 2023
As the U.S. helicopters issued verbal warnings to the Houthi small boats, the attackers brazenly fired upon the aircraft with crew-served weapons and small arms. The U.S. Navy helicopters retaliated decisively, sinking three of the four small boats and eliminating their crews. The remaining assailant fled the area, leaving chaos and destruction in its wake, U.S. Central Command reports.
Fortunately, there were no reported casualties or damage to U.S. personnel or equipment during the intense exchange.
