Two ballistic missiles were fired from Houthi rebel-held Yemen at a US warship in the Gulf of Aden.
The attack came after the US Navy responded to a distress call from a commercial tanker that had been seized by armed men, according to a US military report on Sunday.
The tanker, identified as the Central Park, was carrying phosphoric acid when its crew called for help as “they were under attack from an unknown entity.”
Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder stated on Monday that in accordance with international maritime norms and laws, when a distress call is received, “all vessels in the vicinity, are required to come and help and support.” However, Ryder added that there were three Chinese navy ships in the vicinity that “did not respond.”
“Supposedly, those ships are there as part of a counter-piracy mission. But they did not respond.”
The incident comes after Iranian-backed Houthi forces launched multiple attacks against US interests in the region and Israel following the October 7 Hamas attacks.
The Houthis are a Shia political and military organisation in Yemen that is waging a civil war in the country against a Saudi-backed coalition. They backed the Palestinians and have organised protests in Yemen against Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip.
Ryder informed reporters on Monday that preliminary indications suggested the attackers currently being held on the Mason were Somalis.
The missile destroyer USS Mason and allied ships from the counter-piracy task force operating in the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali coast responded to the call for assistance and “requested release of the vessel” upon arrival.
Subsequently, five armed individuals debarked the ship and attempted to flee via their small boat. The Mason pursued the attackers resulting in their eventual surrender.
Less than two hours after the Navy’s VBSS (Visit, Board, Search and Seizure) team cleared Central Park, two ballistic missiles were fired from areas controlled by Yemen’s Houthi rebels “toward the general location” of the USS Mason and the Central Park.
“The missiles landed in the Gulf of Aden approximately ten nautical miles from the ships.”
At the time the missiles were launched, Mason was finishing responding to the Central Park distress call. As a result, there were no damage or reported injuries from the Central Park or the Mason, the statement added.
General Erik Kurilla, commander of US Central Command, stated on Sunday that maritime security “is essential to regional stability.”
We will continue to work with allies and partners to ensure the safety and security of international shipping lanes.
However, despite the escalation of attacks in the region, intelligence has shown that Iran and its proxies have so far calibrated their response to avoid direct conflict with the US or Israel.
Over the past few weeks, the US has intercepted a number of cruise missiles and attack drones fired by the Houthis at Israel or US facilities. Last week, the USS Thomas Hudner shot down several attack drones launched from Yemen while patrolling the Red Sea. On November 15, the Hudner also shot down a drone believed to be heading towards the ship.
The group declared it would continue military operations against Israeli ships and interests as long as Israeli “aggression against Gaza stops.”
Ryder stated on Monday that the Pentagon still believed the conflict between Israel and Hamas had not yet spread to the region, despite the recent attacks.
“In the case of Iraq and Syria, you know, we’ve known that these groups for a long time have wanted to see us forces depart. But … no, we do not see that this has become a regional conflict. Although again, tensions are high, and it’s something that we’re taking seriously and attempting to ensure does not happen.”
