Off the coast of Yemen on Sunday, armed individuals stormed an Israeli-affiliated tanker and were apprehended by a US Navy cruiser, according to US defence sources.
The US Navy pursued the attackers when they tried to flee in a boat.
The vessel was subsequently targeted by two missiles fired from rebel Houthi-controlled territory in the country, according to a report from US Central Command.
Given that Israel is fighting Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Houthis have vowed to attack Israel.
After the attack on October 7 in southern Israel, which claimed 1,200 lives and left over 240 hostages, Israel began its retaliation onslaught.
According to the health ministry operated by Hamas, about 14,500 individuals have died in the Gaza Strip since then, with almost 40% of them being minors.
The Houthis identify themselves members of a “axis of resistance” made up of organisations with ties to Iran.
The Central Park was the tanker that was targeted on Sunday, according to the ship’s company.
Zodiac Maritime Ltd., an international ship management firm with its headquarters in London and controlled by the Ofer family in Israel, is in charge of managing Central Park.
According to Zodiac Maritime, the 22 crew members included a Turkish captain in addition to citizens of Russia, Vietnam, Bulgaria, India, Georgia, and the Philippines.
The tanker was carrying phosphoric acid, and the rebels reportedly threatened to strike it if it did not turn around and dock in a Yemeni port.
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According to a statement from the US military, the USS Mason asked that the assailants free the commercial ship with assistance from other ships.
The statement also stated that five armed people attempted to flee on a speed boat, but were eventually apprehended by the USS Mason and turned themselves in.
The US claimed that after that, two missiles were fired in the direction of the battleship but crashed far away.
The incidents are the most recent in the Houthis’ string of assaults.
Shortly after Israel began its operation, they fired multiple missiles and drones in Israel’s direction.
At the time, the US claimed that its warship in the Red Sea had intercepted every missile and drone.
Last week, Houthi militants claimed to have taken control of an Israeli cargo ship in the Red Sea. Israel claimed that neither the ship nor any of its crew were Israeli.
Since 2014, the Houthis and Yemen’s recognised government, which is supported by Saudi Arabia, have been engaged in a protracted civil war.
