Armed individuals seized and later released a tanker associated with Israel off the coast of Yemen on Sunday. Subsequently, they were apprehended by the United States Navy. Following the seizure, two ballistic missiles, fired from Houthi-controlled Yemen, landed near a U.S. warship assisting the tanker in the Gulf of Aden. This incident adds tension to a series of ship attacks connected to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The internationally recognized government of Yemen attributed the attack to the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. However, the rebels in control of the capital, Sanaa, did not acknowledge either the tanker seizure or the missile attack.
The seized vessel, the Liberian-flagged Central Park, managed by Zodiac Maritime, was in the Gulf of Aden, according to statements from the company, the U.S. and British militaries, and private intelligence firm Ambrey.
The U.S. military’s Central Command reported early Monday that its forces, along with allies, including the USS Mason, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, responded to the seizure and demanded the armed assailants release the tanker. The statement mentioned that five armed individuals disembarked from the ship and attempted to escape via a small boat. The USS Mason pursued them, leading to their eventual surrender. Armed individuals seized
The Central Command did not identify the attackers, but said a missile launch from Houthi-controlled Yemen followed early Monday morning.
“The missiles landed in the Gulf of Aden approximately 10 nautical miles (18.5 kilometers) from the ships,” the statement said. “The USS Mason … was concluding its response to the M/V Central Park distress call at the time of the missile launches. There was no damage or reported injuries from either vessel during this incident.”