The Pentagon shared late on Sunday that two ballistic missiles were fired from Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen in the direction of a US Navy warship as it responded to a distress call from a commercial tanker.
The USS Mason was traveling to the distress call from the vessel Central Park in the Gulf of Aden, along with other allied ships, after receiving reports “that they were under attack by an unknown entity,” the US Central Command shared in a statement.
After arriving at the scene, the Mason and other ships demanded the release of the Central Park. It was then that five armed individuals debarked the vessel and attempted to flee via a small boat.
“The MASON pursued the attackers, resulting in their eventual surrender,” the release states.
The crew of the Central Park is safe, according to the release.
The Mason was completing its response to the Central Park when two ballistic missiles were fired from Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen in the direction of the two ships. The missiles landed 10 nautical miles away from the ships, resulting in no damage or injuries.
The Mason is a part of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group that President Joe Biden ordered to the region in October and only the latest to be attacked since the war between Israel and Hamas began on Oct. 7.
Since Oct. 17, US forces have been attacked at least 67 times in the region, The Hill reported.
Washington has claimed that Iran and Hamas are behind the attacks, but Tehran has denied any part.