US defence choppers thwart Houthi attack on vessel in Red Sea
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AFP picture.
Washington DC: The Iran-backed Houthis of Yemen launched an attack on a Maersk shipping vessel in the Red Sea, but a US defence run by helicopters thwarted it, killing ten Houthi militants and sinking three ships on Sunday, Reuters reported.
According to US Central Command and Maersk, the attack happened at 0330 GMT on the day. Choppers from USS Eisenhower and USS Gravely joined the container vessel after they received a distress call. The ship, which was carrying 14,000 containers and was going to Singapore, was hit by a missile, 55 nautical miles southwest of Al Hodeidah Yemen, Reuters reports.
Post the attack, Maersk, one of the world's top cargo shippers, said that they had cancelled all shipping through the route for 48 hours.
Meanwhile, Houthis claimed that they opened an attack on the ship after it refused to heed warning calls. The militant group confirmed that 10 of their troops went “dead and missing” after the US defence’s attack on them, Reuters reports.
Reuters opines that this battle suggests the increased chances of a regional escalation in fighting as Israel keeps striking in Palestine.
In November, Houthis started targeting cargo vessels through the Red Sea, justifying it by saying they are extending their support to Hamas in Palestine. After Houthis stepped up their attacks, major shipping companies rerouted their vessels around Africa's Cape of Good Hope, making it costlier.
The Red Sea is an entry point for the Suez Canal, which manages around 12 per cent of the global trade. The canal plays a key role in goods movement between Asia and Europe.
After the Houthis started an attack on the Red Sea, the US announced Operation Prosperity Guardian on December 19. The US said that more than countries agreed to participate in the initiative to check attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea.