The United States military has apprehended five assailants who commandeered an Israel-linked cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden.
The incident unfolded amid missile attacks originating from Houthi-controlled Yemen.
Responding to a distress call from a commercial tanker, the USS Mason, a destroyer, took immediate action on Sunday.
The vessel in question, identified as the Central Park and flying the Liberian flag, was transporting phosphoric acid at the time of the seizure.
The ship is under the management of Zodiac Maritime Ltd., an international ship management firm headquartered in London and owned by Israel’s Ofer family.
U.S. Central Command confirmed the successful mission, highlighting the USS Mason’s collaboration with allied ships.
The military demanded the release of the commercial ship from the armed attackers, ensuring the safety and security of the vessel and its crew.
“Subsequently, five armed individuals debarked the ship and attempted to flee via their small boat,” US Central Command said in a statement. “The Mason pursued the attackers, resulting in their eventual surrender.”
The statement indicated that two ballistic missiles were launched from regions in Yemen under Houthi control, targeting Mason and Central Park.
However, they ultimately landed approximately 10 nautical miles away from the vessels, causing no harm or injuries.
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The government in Aden, Yemen, attributed the attack to the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the country. In contrast, the rebels, who hold control over the capital, Sanaa, did not admit to either the seizure or the missile attack.
The recent incident marks the newest episode in a series of attacks occurring in Middle Eastern waters since the onset of the Gaza conflict on October 7. This development comes on the heels of Houthi forces seizing an Israeli-linked cargo ship in the southern Red Sea just last week.
The Houthis, known for their previous actions such as launching ballistic missiles and armed drones at Israel, have pledged to target more Israeli vessels.
In response to the suspected piracy incident involving the Central Park, a vessel managed by Zodiac Maritime, the company issued a statement indicating that the event took place in international waters, approximately 54 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia.
The statement emphasized the company’s primary concern for the safety of the 22 crew members, consisting of individuals from Russia, Vietnam, Bulgaria, India, Georgia, and the Philippines.
Zodiac Maritime expressed gratitude to coalition forces for their swift response in protecting assets in the area and upholding international maritime law.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations Agency (UKMTO) acknowledged a potential attack in southwest Aden and urged caution among other vessels in the region.
A US defense official reported that a suspected Iranian drone struck a container ship managed by an Israeli-controlled company in the Indian Ocean.
The attack caused minor damage to the vessel, but fortunately, no injuries were reported.
The United States has previously attributed unclaimed attacks on various vessels in the region to Iran, although Tehran has consistently denied involvement.