ISTANBUL

The US said on Thursday that Houthi forces attacked a Marshall Islands-flagged cargo ship in the southern Red Sea, and when the US Navy tried to help it after a mayday call, Houthi forces in Yemen also fired two missiles at them, but both failed to hit their target.

Houthi forces attempted to board the Marshall Islands-flagged Motor Vessel Ardmore Encounter with skiffs on Wednesday at 0530GMT, but when the cargo ship called for help, a US Navy warship was dispatched, the US Central Command said in a statement posted on X.

“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,” the statement said.

When that failed, a pair of missiles were launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen at the vessel, both of which missed, the statement said, adding, "While responding to the distress call, the Mason shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) also launched from Houthi-controlled area."

The UAV was heading directly towards the US Naval ship and was shot down in self-defense.

There were no injuries to personnel and no damage to any vessels, the statement said, adding that the Ardmore Encounter was able to proceed without further incident.