A Maersk container vessel faced a missile and small boat attack by Iranian-backed Houthi militants, compelling the company to suspend Red Sea sailings for 48 hours, as announced on Sunday.
Despite the assault on the Maersk Hangzhou, the crew is secure, and the vessel, undamaged by fire, remains fully operational, continuing its northward journey to Port Suez, as reported by Maersk.
This incident marks the latest in a series of attacks by Houthi militants in Yemen, disrupting global trade routes. Major shipping companies opt for the longer and costlier route around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope due to the Red Sea disturbances, impacting the crucial Suez Canal, responsible for approximately 12% of global trade.
With the Red Sea serving as the gateway for Suez Canal-bound ships, the situation prompted the United States to initiate Operation Prosperity Guardian on Dec. 19, with over 20 countries participating in efforts to protect vessels in Red Sea waters near Yemen.
Despite Maersk’s earlier decision to resume Red Sea sailings on Dec. 24, ongoing attacks and reluctance from U.S. allies to openly declare their presence in the coalition have led the company to delay transits for 48 hours, following the missile strike on the Maersk Hangzhou near Al Hodeidah, Yemen.
In response to the attack, a U.S. warship intercepted two anti-ship ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, according to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
Further escalation occurred when, on Sunday at 0330 GMT, Houthi militants targeted the same ship with four small boats. A potential boarding attempt was thwarted by the vessel’s security team and assistance from helicopters dispatched by the USS Eisenhower and USS Gravely, both returning fire in response to distress calls, according to statements from Maersk and CENTCOM.
The helicopters successfully sank three of the militant boats, with no survivors, while the fourth boat fled the area, as indicated by CENTCOM.
The Singapore-flagged Maersk Hangzhou, capable of carrying 14,000 containers, was en route from Singapore during these incidents.
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron urged Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian to intervene in halting Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. Cameron emphasized Iran’s shared responsibility, citing their longstanding support for the Houthis and the global threats posed by these attacks, endangering lives and the economy.
