Two ballistic missiles were launched from inside Yemeni territory towards a US destroyer in the Gulf of Aden
The US Central Command announced, at dawn on Monday, the launch of two ballistic missiles from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen towards a US naval destroyer in the Gulf of Aden.
The command added in a statement on X, “The two ballistic missiles fell in the Gulf of Aden at a distance of 10 nautical miles from the US destroyer, without causing damage or injuries to the destroyer”.
“Security of the maritime domain is essential to regional stability,” said General Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of US Central Command.
“We’ll continue to work with allies and partners to ensure the safety and security of international shipping lanes,” according to the statement.
The statement explained, “On November 26, the American destroyer, USS Mason, along with allied ships from the Alliance Anti-Piracy Task Force and associated aircraft, responded to a distress call from the merchant ship (Central Park), which was attacked by an unknown side”.
The statement noted, “When the destroyer USS Mason arrived at the location of the hijacked tanker, coalition members demanded the release of the tanker”.
“After that, five armed individuals got off and tried to escape via their small boat, but they were chased, which led to their eventual surrender”.
On Sunday evening, the Central Park commercial ship, owned by Israeli family, was attacked near the coast of Aden, Yemen.
According to reports from Israel on Sunday, the ship sailed under the Liberian flag, and is owned by UK based, Zodiac Marine Company.
Earlier on Sunday, gunmen seized a tanker loaded with phosphoric acid in the Gulf of Aden, according to the Embrey Maritime Security Company.
Zodiac company said in a statement, “The Houthis previously threatened to attack the ship if it didn’t divert its course towards the port of Hodeidah”.
She added, “There are citizens from Russia, Bulgaria, Vietnam, Georgia, India and the Philippines on board the tanker”.
On November 19, the Yemeni Houthi “Ansar Allah” group announced kidnapping of an Israeli ship, which Israel later denied, confirming that the ship was owned by a British company and operated by a Japanese company, denying that there were Israelis on board.
The Ansar Allah group had previously vowed to target ships owned or operated by Israeli companies to support the Gaza Strip, calling on countries to withdraw their citizens working on the crews of these ships.
