US choppers kill Houthis attempting to board ship

 American Action News:

U.S. Navy helicopters killed an unspecified number of Houthi militants and sunk three of their boats in self defense early Sunday after the Yemen-based rebels fired at troops coming to the aid of a commercial ship, the military said.

Iranian-backed rebels aboard four small boats attacked the Singapore-flagged, Denmark-owned and operated Maersk Hangzou for the second time that day, firing crew-served and small arms weapons at the commercial ship’s crew and attempting to board, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement. While responding to the Hangzhou’s distress call, U.S. helicopters from the nearby aircraft carrier and destroyer came under fire themselves, destroying three of the boats and sending the fourth to scramble away.

The incident is the first time the Pentagon has confirmed Houthi militants directly targetd American military personnel.

“U.S. helicopters from the USS EISENHOWER (CVN 69) and GRAVELY (DDG 107) responded to the distress call and in the process of issuing verbal calls to the small boats, the small boats fired upon the U.S. helicopters with crew served weapons and small arms. The U.S. Navy helicopters returned fire in self-defense, sinking three of the four small boats, and killing the crews,” CENTCOM said.

There was no damage to U.S. personnel or equipment, CENTCOM confirmed.

A contracted security team on the Maersk also joined in the firefight, according to CENTCOM.

The evening prior, a missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen struck the Hangzhou while it was transiting the Southern Red Sea, according to CENTCOM. The Hangzhou issued a distress call and the destroyers USS Gravely and USS Laboon responded, but there were no reported injuries.

The Gravely shot down two more anti-ship ballistic missiles the Houthis fired toward the “ships” while rendering assistance, CENTCOM said.
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Denmark is also sending one of its warships into the area to deal with the Houthis.   The US attack helicopter aircraft carrier made short work of the Houthis small boats but made no attempt to strike the Houthis base in Yemen so far.  It is likely going to take an attack on the Houthis base in Yemen to stop the Iran-backed group's attacks.  It is not clear why the Biden administration has not ordered such attacks yet.

See also:

US Navy sinks 3 Houthi boats attacking merchant ship in Red Sea, US says

The U.S. Navy sank three small boats, killing the crew, military officials said.

And:

 After U.S. Navy Helicopters Sink Houthi Boats Are Strikes Next?