IRAN-BACKED rebels have fired two missiles at a US Navy warship off the coast of Yemen after hijacking an Israeli tanker.
The is coming amid a spate of ship attacks linked to the Israel-Hamas war.
The USS Mason managed to drive away five hijackers who seized chemical tanker Central Park in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday.
Armed attackers had taken control of the ship ( Central Park) on Sunday.
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A warning from the UK military described “two black-and-white craft carrying eight persons in military-style clothing” involved in the hijack.
The US Navy was called in and demanded the tanker to be released before five of the attackers tried to escape on a boat.
They were chased down and eventually captured by the Navy.
Although the US has not identified the attackers, Houthi forces fired two ballistic missiles from Yemen at the warship as the Navy moved in to arrest the armed hijackers.
USS Mason tracked the missiles, which landed about 10 nautical miles away from them.
Meanwhile, sources said that Houti rebels threatening US Navy vessels marked a “significant escalation”.
Yemen’s Houthis were officially recognised as a terrorist organisation in the US under Trump – until Biden removed the militants from the list in 2021.
They previously vowed to target all ships owned by Israel or flying their flag in the Red Sea.
