U.S. Central Command reported that U.S. Navy helicopters successfully countered an attack by Houthi forces on the MV Maersk Hangzhou in the Red Sea early Sunday morning. The Houthis, launching from Yemen, attempted to seize the Singapore-flagged merchant ship using four small boats.
According to the statement, the Houthi boats, armed with crew-served and small arms, fired upon and attempted to board the Maersk Hangzhou, coming within 65 feet of the vessel. Helicopters from the USS Gravely (DDG-107) and the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) responded to the ship’s distress call and were subsequently attacked by the Houthis.
The helicopter crews engaged and sank three of the attacking boats, killing their crews. The fourth boat withdrew from the confrontation. This incident follows a separate attack on the Maersk Hangzhou on Saturday, where an anti-ship ballistic missile was launched from Yemen. The USS Gravely and USS Laboon (DDG-58) responded to this earlier distress call, successfully intercepting two subsequent missiles. This latest attack marks the 23rd against merchant shipping in the Red Sea.
The Danish shipping company, Maersk, said today they were suspending transits through the Red Sea. This is the second time this month they have done so. The Danish government announced earlier they were sending a frigate to the region to protect ships.
