On Sunday (11/26/23) A U.S. Navy warship, named the USS Mason, responded to a distress call from a commercial tanker in Yemeni’s Gulf of Aden, which had been seized by armed individuals. This tanker, called the Central Park, was carrying a cargo of phosphoric acid. The Yemeni government stated that the tanker had been seized by Houthi militias.
The U.S. military, assisted by allied ships, demanded the release of the captured commercial ship. Five combatant individuals attempted to escape on a fast boat but were pursued by the USS Mason and eventually surrendered.
During Sunday’s incident, two ballistic rockets were launched from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, targeting the USS Mason and the Central Park. Fortunately, they landed about 10 nautical miles away, causing no damage or injuries.
This incident is the most recent in a series of attacks in Middle Eastern waters since conflicts between Israel and Hamas began on October 7th. Last week, Yemen Houthis, who are allies of Iran, seized an Israeli-linked cargo ship in the southern Red Sea. Again, Houthi militants also targeted Israel with projectiles and militaristic drones, promising further attacks on Israeli vessels.
The Central Park, a small-sized tanker for shipping chemicals managed by Zodiac Maritime Ltd, was involved in the latest suspected piracy incident. The vessel of Liberian origin was commissioned in 2015 and is the property of Clumvez Shipping Inc. It carries a multinational crew consisting of individuals from Russia, Vietnam, Bulgaria, India, Georgia, and the Philippines. Phosphoric acid, the primary cargo being transported, is primarily used for fertilizers.
Zodiac Maritime emphasized their priority in safeguarding 22 crew members on board during the ambush.
There has been no official comment from Houthi officials regarding the mentioned incident.
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