TheLittleTwentieth – Renowned Papers Edition, AI Infused

Local sources from United States: The Guardian, The Jerusalem Post.
UK coverage: The Guardian.

The US Navy has secured an Israeli-linked tanker that had been attacked by ‘armed individuals’ in the Gulf of Aden, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Monday morning. The USS Mason responded to a distress call by the Central Park tanker in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday and demanded the ship’s release. Subsequently, five armed individuals debarked the ship and attempted to flee via their small boat. The Mason pursued the attackers resulting in their eventual surrender. The crew of the M/V Central Park is currently safe.

The US did not say who the attackers were, describing them as an ‘unknown entity’. However, it added that two ballistic missiles were fired from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen toward the ‘general location’ of the two ships as the Mason was ‘concluding its response’ to the distress call. The missiles landed about 10 nautical miles away, it said.

The tanker sailed from the Moroccan port of Safi and passed through the Suez canal on 22 November. It was carrying a full cargo of phosphoric acid. The incident is the latest in a series of attacks in Middle Eastern waters since the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas broke out on 7 October.

Early on Monday morning, two ballistic missiles were fired from areas controlled by the Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen toward the USS Mason as it was concluding its response to a distress call by the Central Park tanker, according to CENTCOM. The missiles fell ten nautical miles away from the vessels. No damage or injuries were caused.

US and coalition forces were in the vicinity and closely monitored the situation. US Central Command Commander Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla said, ‘Maritime domain security is essential to regional stability. We will continue to work with allies and partners to ensure the safety and security of international shipping lanes.’

The US Navy’s successful rescue of the Israeli-owned tanker highlights the heightened risk to shipping in the region. It also serves as a reminder of the US’s commitment to protecting international waters and ensuring the safety of its allies.