U.S. Navy thwarts hijack attempt in the Gulf of Aden, apprehending five suspects who boarded the Israeli-owned tanker M/V Central Park, while tensions rise with Houthi forces firing missiles at the USS Mason and the tanker.

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In a sudden turn of events, the U.S. Navy stopped an attempt to take over the Israeli-owned ship M/V Central Park in the Gulf of Aden. There were five suspects on board the ship trying to take control, but the crew quickly and decisively blocked the pirates from doing so by barricading themselves in the tanker’s fortress. After that, the suspects got on a boat and tried to escape toward Yemen.

The USS Mason (DDG-87) and an unnamed Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force ship quickly reacted to the call for help and chased the skiff as it ran away. With the help of its onboard chopper, the USS Mason was able to hold the suspects until they could be questioned. It is said that the crew of the M/V Central Park is safe.

Fox News said the event happened on November 26 when members of the group, including the USS Mason, responded to the commercial ship’s emergency call. In a late Sunday statement, U.S. Central Command went into detail about what happened, focusing on how the armed people were being chased and eventually surrendered.

After the suspects were arrested, things got worse when Houthi forces shot two short-range ballistic missiles at the USS Mason and the M/V Central Park. The rockets hit in the Gulf of Aden, not far from the ships (about 10 nautical miles). Thank goodness, no one was hurt or damage was done to either ship during this scary event.

A Liberian-flagged ship named M/V Central Park is owned by Zodiac Maritime, which is run by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer. In 2021, two crew members were killed in an attack by a drone off the coast of Oman.

Recently, there was a claimed drone attack on an Israeli-owned container ship in the Indian Ocean, and in the past few days, the USS Thomas Hudner (DDG-116) shot down several drones. The events are happening at the same time that Israel is continuing to attack Hamas in response to the group’s attacks in southern Israel. Since the war began, over 14,000 people have died in Gaza.

The United States has sent more military troops to the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean Sea because of rising tensions in the area. The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group just got into the Persian Gulf. This is the first time since late 2020 that a U.S. aircraft carrier has been in these seas.

The whole message from CENTCOM stresses how important marine area security is for keeping the region stable. The head of USCENTCOM, Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, said that the country would continue to work with its friends and partners to protect the safety and security of international trade lines, even as problems arise.