BEIRUT (NEWSnet/AP) — The U.S. military said Sunday it shot down two anti-ship ballistic missiles fired toward a container ship by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in Red Sea.

Hours later, four boats tried to attack the same ship, but U.S. forces opened fire, killing several of the armed crew members, U.S. Central Command said. No one on the ship was injured.

The Singapore-flagged Maersk Hangzhou said it had been hit by a missile Saturday night while transiting the southern Red Sea and requested assistance, Centcom said in a statement. USS Gravely and USS Laboon responded to the call for help, and the Denmark-owned vessel was reportedly seaworthy and no injuries were noted, the statement added.

“This is the 23rd illegal attack by the Houthis on international shipping since Nov. 19,” Centcom said.

Centcom said the same ship issued an additional distress call about a second attack “by four Iranian-backed Houthi small boats.” The attackers fired small arms weapons at Maersk Hangzhou, coming to within about 65 feet of the vessel.

A contract-embarked security team on the ship returned fire, central command said. U.S. helicopters from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier and Gravely responded to the distress call and while issuing verbal warnings to the attackers, the boat crews opened fire on the helicopters using small arms.

“The U.S. Navy helicopters returned fire in self-defense,” sinking three of the four boats, killing the crews while the fourth boat fled the area, Centcom said. No damage to U.S. personnel or equipment was reported.

The Iran-backed Houthis have claimed attacks on ships in Red Sea that they say are either linked to Israel or heading to Israel ports.

 

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