On Wednesday Janurary 25th, two American-flagged vessels transporting cargo for the U.S. Defense and State departments found themselves under attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels, as reported by officials. Swiftly responding to the threat, the U.S. Navy intercepted some of the incoming fire, effectively protecting the container ships Maersk Detroit and Maersk Chesapeake. This incident escalates the ongoing peril presented by Houthi rebels in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, prompting coordinated airstrikes by the U.S. and the United Kingdom to mitigate these maritime threats. Concurrently, Qatar, a significant exporter of liquefied natural gas, voiced concerns about the impact of Houthi attacks on its deliveries, citing the broader conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
In the wake of these attacks, Danish shipper Maersk, in a statement to The Associated Press, confirmed the assaults on its U.S.-flagged vessels, underscoring the U.S. Navy's role as an escort during the incidents. Despite encountering explosions in close proximity, both Maersk Detroit and Maersk Chesapeake, along with their crew and cargo, remained unharmed. The U.S. Navy rerouted the vessels, providing an escort back to the Gulf of Aden. Maersk emphasized that the cargo aboard belonged to the U.S. Defense and State Departments, justifying the protection provided by the U.S. Navy during their transit through the strait.