FILE PHOTO: Houthi military helicopter flies over the Galaxy Leader cargo ship in the Red Sea in this photo released November 20, 2023. Photo: Houthi Military Media/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

i24 News – The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) Sunday morning confirmed that four small boats belonging to the Iranian-backed Houthis took part in an attack on a commercial ship and had also fired upon the responding American forces, which sunk three of the aggressors’ vessels, following a report by the UK Maritime Trade Operations. Meanwhile, commerce giant Maersk said it would suspend its shipping activity in the area for the next 48 hours.

Amid the ongoing hostilities in the area, the Indian Navy announced on Sunday “substantially enhanced maritime efforts” and “augmented force levels,” due to the increased incidents in the “Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Central / Norther Arabian Sea.”

Iranian-backed Houthi small boats attack merchant vessel and U.S. Navy helicopters in Southern Red Sea

On Dec. 31 at 6:30am (Sanaa time) the container ship MAERSK HANGZHOU issued a second distress call in less than 24 hours reporting being under attack by four Iranian-backed… pic.twitter.com/pj8NAzjbVF

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 31, 2023

Another weekend attack was stopped by CENTCOM, which said two anti-ship ballistic missiles were intercepted in the Red Sea area, while its Burke-class destroyers responded to an earlier attack against a Danish merchant vessel.

“The container ship Maersk Hangzhou reported that they were struck by a missile while transiting the Southern Red Sea. The Singapore-flagged, Denmark-owned-operated container ship requested assistance,” CENTCOM posted on X.

USS GRAVELY shoots down two anti-ship ballistic missiles while responding to Houthi attack on merchant vessel.

Today at approximately 8:30 p.m. (Sanaa time), the container ship MAERSK HANGZHOU reported that they were struck by a missile while transiting the Southern Red Sea. The… pic.twitter.com/nUgifhkdC8

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 31, 2023

There were reportedly no injuries on the Maersk Hangzhou and the vessel was still seaworthy. CENTCOM said the the USS Gravely and USS Laboon had responded to the event.

“While responding, the USS Gravely shot down two anti-ship ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen toward the ships,” the statement added.

The U.S. military concluded that this was “the 23rd illegal attack by the Houthis on international shipping since Nov. 19,” but did not provide further details.

Operation “Prosperity Guardian” was launched by the U.S. as a maritime coalition security operation to safeguard shipping lanes in the Red Sea against Houthi attacks. More than 20 nations signed up for the defensive force, and the Pentagon said it expected “to see the coalition continue to grow.”