COPENHAGEN/DUBAI/CAIRO, Dec 31 - In the early hours of Sunday, U.S. helicopters successfully thwarted an attack by Iran-backed Houthi militants on a Maersk container vessel, the Maersk Hangzhou, in the Red Sea. The clash resulted in the sinking of three ships and the reported death of 10 militants, as confirmed by accounts from American, Maersk, and Houthi officials.
The naval confrontation unfolded at approximately 0330 GMT, with the attackers attempting to board the Singapore-flagged Maersk Hangzhou, as disclosed by Maersk and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). Responding to a distress call, helicopters from the USS Eisenhower and USS Gravely joined forces with the ship's security team to repel the assailants.
In response to the incident, Maersk announced a temporary halt to all sailing activities through the Red Sea for a duration of 48 hours.
A spokesperson for the Houthi group asserted that they initiated the attack after the ship's crew allegedly ignored warning calls. The spokesperson further stated that 10 Houthi naval personnel were reported as "dead and missing" following the U.S. forces' counterattack in the Red Sea.
This naval engagement underscores the potential for regional escalation amid the ongoing conflict, particularly as Israel persists with its intensive bombing campaign. This comes in the wake of a surprise cross-border attack by Hamas on Israeli towns on Oct. 7, resulting in significant casualties and hostages. Israel's continued air and artillery bombardment, according to Gazan health authorities, has led to the loss of more than 21,800 lives.