Houthi Missile Attack Provokes Response from Two U.S. Warships

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that a U.S. Navy warship named 'USS Gravely' shot down two anti-ship ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen on Saturday night. CENTCOM reported that early Saturday, a cargo ship flying the flags of Singapore and Denmark, named 'Maersk Hangzhou,' was struck by a missile while passing through the southern Red Sea, prompting a response from the warships 'Gravely' and 'Laboon.' In response to a distress call from the commercial vessel 'Maersk Hangzhou,' U.S. forces targeted three out of four Houthi boats that were attempting to seize the ship, sinking the boats and their crews. According to CENTCOM, at 6:30 AM local time on Sunday, the 'Maersk Hangzhou' reported in a distress message that four armed boats intended to capture it. In response to this request, attack helicopters from the USS Eisenhower and Gravely were deployed, and in response to fire from the Houthi boats, three boats were sunk while one fled the scene. CENTCOM stated that this was the twenty-third recorded illegal attack by Houthi rebels on international vessels since November 19, when the group began its assaults on ships in the Red Sea, claiming it was retaliation against Israel for its military operations in Gaza. CENTCOM reported no injuries, and the ship was reportedly able to continue moving. The Iranian-backed Houthi attacks have forced some of the world's largest shipping and oil companies to halt transit through one of the most important maritime trade routes, potentially shocking the global economy. According to Iranian media, Masoud Daneshmand, a board member of the Iranian Transportation Institute, noted that the problems caused by the Houthis in the Red Sea have led to a 50% increase in shipping costs and freight rates. The implications of the Yemeni attacks in the Red Sea have raised shipping costs by up to 50%. The commander of the U.S. Fifth Fleet stated that there are no signs of an end to the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. An American warship shot down a Houthi drone and a ballistic missile. The U.S. imposed sanctions on one individual and three entities facilitating financial support from the Islamic Republic to the Houthis. EU members are discussing measures to protect shipping in the Red Sea.