On Sunday morning, Dec. 31, at 6:30am (local time) the container ship Maersk Hangzhou issued a second distress call in less than 24 hours reporting being under attack by four Iranian-backed Houthi small boats. The boats, originating from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, fired at the container ship, getting to within 20 meters of the ship, and attempted to board.
As the ship’s security forces attempted to hold the attackers at bay, helicopters from the USS Eisenhower carrier group arrived and the Houthis opened fire on them.
“The small boats fired upon the US helicopters with crew-served weapons and small arms,” Central Command said in a statement. “The US Navy helicopters returned fire in self-defense, sinking three of the four small boats, and killing the crews. The fourth boat fled the area. There was no damage to U.S. personnel or equipment.” Central Command did not say how many had been killed, but in a statement later on Sunday the Houthis said that 10 of their fighters were dead.