In a daring operation, the US military has successfully responded to a distress call from an Israel-linked commercial tanker in the Gulf of Aden. The USS Mason, a US destroyer, intercepted the tanker that had been seized by armed assailants amid missile attacks from Houthi-controlled Yemen. The incident, which took place on Sunday, saw the USS Mason, with assistance from allied ships, demand the release of the commercial ship from the attackers. Eventually, five armed individuals surrendered after attempting to flee in a small boat.
The Liberian-flagged tanker, known as the Central Park and managed by Zodiac Maritime Ltd, a London-based international ship management firm owned by Israel’s Ofer family, had been transporting phosphoric acid. The USS Mason’s prompt response prevented any harm to the vessel and its crew. Although two ballistic missiles were fired from Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen towards the USS Mason and the Central Park, they landed harmlessly about 10 nautical miles away from the ships.
Yemen’s government in Aden has held the country’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels responsible for the attack. However, the rebels, who control the capital city of Sanaa, have not acknowledged either the seizure or the missile attack. This incident is the latest in a series of attacks in Middle Eastern waters since the outbreak of the war in Gaza on October 7. Last week, Houthi forces seized another Israeli-linked cargo ship in the southern Red Sea. The Houthis, who have previously launched ballistic missiles and armed drones at Israel, have vowed to target more Israeli vessels.
Zodiac Maritime, in a statement, confirmed that the Central Park was involved in a suspected piracy incident while crossing international waters off the coast of Somalia. The safety of the ship’s 22 crew members, consisting of Russian, Vietnamese, Bulgarian, Indian, Georgian, and Filipino nationals, remains the top priority. The company expressed gratitude to the coalition forces for their swift response in protecting assets in the area and upholding international maritime law.
The incident has raised concerns among maritime authorities. Britain’s Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO) has issued a warning to other vessels, urging them to exercise caution in the southwest Aden area. The US has previously accused Iran of carrying out unclaimed attacks on several vessels in the region over the past few years. However, Tehran has consistently denied any involvement.
In a separate incident, a container ship managed by an Israeli-controlled company recently suffered minor damage from a suspected Iranian drone attack in the Indian Ocean. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. The US defense official revealed this information, highlighting the ongoing tensions in the region.
The successful response by the US military to the distress call from the Israel-linked tanker demonstrates the importance of international cooperation and maritime security in the Gulf of Aden. As tensions continue to escalate in the region, the safety of commercial vessels and their crews remains a top priority for authorities worldwide.
