The US Navy sinks three Houthi militant boats in the Red Sea after attacking a Maersk merchant ship with missiles – amid increased operations to protect vital shipping lanes

The US Navy has destroyed several “small” Houthi boats trying to board a container ship in the Red Sea, officials said.

The incident, confirmed by the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), comes as the US continues its patrol mission to counter threats from the Iran-backed rebel group.

The crew of the Singapore-flagged ship with a capacity to carry 14,000 containers is said to be safe, but the number of militants killed remains unknown.

In a statement, military officials described how they used helicopters to sink three of the militant boats while allowing a fourth to escape.

The attack was the latest by rebels in Yemen to target ships to show support for the Palestinian group Hamas amid the war with Israel.

The attack was the latest by militants in Yemen, who targeted ships to show their support for the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas amid the war with Israel. A Houthi military helicopter flew over the Galaxy Leader cargo ship in the Red Sea last month

Officials said in a statement around 4 a.m. ET: “On December 31 at 6:30 a.m. (Sanaa time), the container ship Maersk Hangzhou issued a second distress call in less than 24 hours, reporting that it was under attack by four Iranian-backed small Houthi boats.

“The small boats,” the bulletin continued, “fired crew members and small arms fire at the Maersk Hangzhou, within 20 meters of the ship.”

The Houthi-controlled boats then attempted to “board the ship,” officials said, leading a contracted security team that had been aboard the ship to return fire.

“U.S. helicopters from USS Eisenhower and Gravely responded to the distress call,” the statement said.

‘[I]During the process of issuing verbal calls to the small boats, the small boats fired at the American helicopters with crew members operating guns and small arms.

“The US Navy helicopters returned fire in self-defense, sinking three of the four small boats and killing the crew.

“The fourth boat fled the area,” officials added, days after the US and its allies launched Operation Prosperity Guardian to protect the crucial shipping lane.

“There was no damage to U.S. personnel or equipment,” the report continued, without disclosing the casualties on the other side.

Houthi fighters open the cockpit door on the deck of the Galaxy Leader ship in the Red Sea in November

As the early morning statement indicated, the failed attack was the second alleged Houthi attack on Maersk Hangzhou in less than 24 hours.

It happened in the early morning in the east, just as the sun was rising, but when most of them were on their way to bed.

In the wake of the attacks, Maersk, the global shipping giant that owns the ship, announced it would suspend operations in the Red Sea for 48 hours to assess the threat to commercial ships in the region.

The Houthi group, meanwhile, has not yet commented on the incidents, which are just the latest committed by the rebels in recent months.

Protesters in Sana’a, Yemen, take part in a demonstration in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza on December 15 amid the conflict. The Houthis, who are aligned with Iran, have launched attacks on ships in the Red Sea and used drones and missiles to attack Israel

Houthi forces stand guard during a demonstration in Sana’a, Yemen, on December 15

The Houthis are Iranian-backed rebels who abandoned their northern stronghold in Yemen in 2014 and took over the capital Sanaa. In doing so, they have started a war against a Saudi-led coalition that wants to restore the government.

The Houthis have sporadically attacked ships in the region, but attacks have increased since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas.

They have used drones and anti-ship missiles to attack ships and in one case used a helicopter to seize an Israeli-owned ship and its crew.

They have threatened to attack any ship they believe is going to or coming from Israel.

That now appears to have been escalated to every ship following recent attacks, with the Houthis also radioing ships in an attempt to convince them to change course closer to the area they control.