Iran-backed Houthi rebels fire missiles at US destroyer in 'significant escalation'
Houthi rebels have fired ballistic missiles at the US tanker the Central Park off the coast of Yemen.
Iran-backed Houthi rebels fired missiles at a US warship after the United States Navy responded to a distress call from the seized commercial tanker Central Park, the US military reported on Sunday.
The Central Park, carrying phosphoric acid, issued a call for help as its crew found themselves under attack by an unidentified entity, according to a statement from the US Central Command.
In response, the USS Mason, a guided-missile destroyer, and allied ships from a counter-piracy task force operating in the region to protect Israel swiftly responded, demanding the release of the Central Park upon arrival.
The situation intensified as five armed individuals attempted to flee the Central Park via a small boat.
A statement posted on the social media platform X read: "The Mason pursued the attackers, resulting in their eventual surrender", without disclosing the identities of the attackers.
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At 1:41 a.m. local time on Monday morning, two ballistic missiles were fired from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen towards the general location of the USS Mason and the Central Park, according to the Central Command statement.
The missiles, however, landed in the Gulf of Aden approximately ten nautical miles from the ships.
At the time of the missile launches, the USS Mason was concluding its response to the Central Park's distress call. There were no reported injuries or damage to either the Central Park or the USS Mason as a result of the missile launches.
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Zodiac Maritime, the management company overseeing the Central Park, assured in a statement on Sunday that the Liberian-flagged chemical tanker was safe, and all crew members and cargo were unharmed.
The tanker's association with an Israeli-owned company was noted, with Zodiac Maritime listed as part of Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer's Ofer Global, although a spokesperson clarified that Zodiac "is not owned by Ofer Global".
Gen. Erik Kurilla, the commander of US Central Command, spoke of the importance of maritime domain security. He said: "We will continue to work with allies and partners to ensure the safety and security of international shipping lanes."
