Another tanker reports ‘exchange of fire’ with speedboat off Yemen’s coastal city of Hodeidah, Two missiles launched from territory controlled by Yemen’s Houthi rebels have targeted a commercial tanker near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, according to a United States official cited by The Associated Press news agency..
US Central Command said, At approximately 0830 (Sanaa time) on December 13, in the southern Red Sea, the Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87) was responding to a mayday call from the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Motor Vessel Ardmore Encounter, which was under attack from Houthi forces. These forces first attempted to board the tanker via skiffs..
When this was unsuccessful, a pair of missiles were fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen at the vessel, which both missed. While responding to the distress call, the Mason shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle also launched from Houthi-controlled areas.
The UAV was heading directly towards the Mason and was shot down in self-defense. There were no injuries to personnel and no damage to any vessels. The Ardmore Encounter was able to proceed without further incident.
