US Navy helicopters kill Iran-backed Houthi fighters attempting to board a cargo ship in Red Sea – By Rebecca Rommen (Business Insider) / Dec 31, 2023
- Navy helicopters fired on Iran-backed Houthi gunmen attempting to hijack a cargo ship.
- The helicopters returned fire in self-defense, sinking three of the four small boats, and killing the crews.
- The small boats originated from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, said US Central Command.
The conflict in the Red Sea escalated on Sunday when US Navy helicopters fired on and destroyed the boats of Iranian-backed Houthi gunmen attempting to board a cargo ship.
The small boats, originating from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, attempted to board the Maersk Hangzhou, a Singapore-registered, Danish-owned cargo ship, said US Central Command (Centcom).
Iranian-backed Houthi small boats attack merchant vessel and U.S. Navy helicopters in Southern Red Sea
On Dec. 31 at 6:30am (Sanaa time) the container ship MAERSK HANGZHOU issued a second distress call in less than 24 hours reporting being under attack by four Iranian-backed… pic.twitter.com/pj8NAzjbVF
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 31, 2023
