BEIRUT — The U.S. military stated Sunday that its forces opened fire on Houthi rebels after they assaulted a freight ship in the Red Sea, killing anumberof of them in an escalation of the maritime dispute connected to the war in Gaza. “We’re going to act in a self-defense going forward,” a White House authorities stated.
In a series of declarations, the U.S. Central Command stated the team of the USS Gravely destroyer veryfirst shot down 2 anti-ship ballistic rockets fired at the Singapore-flagged Maersk Hangzhou late Saturday, after the vessel reported getting hit by a rocket earlier that night as it cruised through the Southern Red Sea.
Four little boats then assaulted the exactsame freight ship with little arms fire early Sunday and rebels attempted to board the vessel, the U.S. Navy stated.
Next, the USS Gravely and helicopters from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower airplane provider reacted to the Maersk Hangzhou’s distress call and provided spoken cautions to the aggressors, who reacted by shooting on the helicopters.
“The U.S. Navy helicopters returned fire in self-defense,” sinking 3 of the 4 boats and killing the individuals on board while the 4th boat gotaway the location, the U.S. Central Command stated. No damage to U.S. workers or devices, or casualties from the freight ship, were reported.
The Houthis acknowledged that 10 of their fighters were eliminated in the fight and cautioned of effects.
In Washington, a representative for the White House National Security Council avoided a concern about the possibility of a preemptive strike versus the Houthis to secure business shipping in the essential waterway.
“I won’t state what’s on or off the table right now,” John Kirby informed ABC’s “Good Morning America,” including, “We’re going to do what we have to do to safeguard shipping.” H