Pentagon: Attempt to Hijack a Commercial Oil Tanker in the Gulf of Aden Was by Somali Pirates

A Pentagon spokesman stated on Monday that the attempt to hijack a commercial oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden was not carried out by the Houthis of Yemen, but rather appears to have been conducted by five Somali pirates. General Pat Ryder told reporters, "We know they are not Houthis." According to The Hill, the Pentagon spokesman said the USS Mason, a U.S. Navy ship, detained five Somali pirates after an emergency assistance request from a commercial vessel associated with an Israeli company carrying phosphoric acid. According to a statement from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the individuals attempted to escape in a small boat before being apprehended. CENTCOM reported that while the Navy was concluding the emergency assistance operation, two missiles were fired from Yemen controlled by the Houthis towards the USS Mason. These missiles landed in the Gulf of Aden, approximately ten miles from the Mason. Pat Ryder did not specify whether Pentagon officials believe the missiles targeted the two vessels. Ryder stated that the initial assessment by the Department of Defense is that these five individuals are Somali and that the incident is "related to piracy." He added that the assailants are currently being held on the USS Mason. He also noted that three other ships belonging to the Chinese military were present in the maritime area during the hijacking attempt, but the Chinese vessels did not respond to 59 emergency assistance requests. This incident occurs amidst ongoing attacks by Iranian proxy forces against U.S. troops and interests in the Middle East, as the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas has escalated since October 7. U.S. officials are concerned that these conflicts could escalate and devastate the region, as the Islamic Republic and Israel have been engaged in a long-standing proxy war. On Sunday, November 19, the Houthis seized a cargo ship traveling from Turkey to India. Armed Yemeni rebels, dressed in military-style commando bulletproof vests, landed on the ship and quickly took control. The United States has held the Islamic Republic of Iran responsible for attacks on several vessels in the region in recent years, a claim Tehran denies. An unsuccessful missile attack by the Houthis on a U.S. Navy ship in the Gulf of Aden was reported, and officials stated that after the U.S. Navy's response, the hijacked oil tanker is safe.