U.S. warship targeted after aiding Israeli-tied commercial tanker

U.S. Central Command confirmed Sunday that two ballistic missiles were fired at the USS Mason in the Gulf of Aden between the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea. Launched from Houthi rebel-controlled territory in Yemen, the ballistic missiles landed in the water miles away from the warship. The attack came hours after the Mason responded to a distress call of piracy from an Israeli-linked commercial tanker called the Central Park. Five armed individuals attempted to escape in a small motorboat before surrendering to the Mason on Sunday. Yemen’s internationally recognized government said Houthi rebels were responsible for the attempted attack on the Central Park. Iran-backed Houthi rebels control much of Yemen.

How is the ship linked to Israel? The Central Park is managed by Zodiac Maritime, owned by Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer. The incident comes days after a different commercial ship owned by another Israeli billionaire was subject to a drone strike in the Indian Ocean. No one was injured, and Iran is believed to be behind the attack.

Dig deeper: Read John Dawson’s report in WORLD Magazine on the recent rise in piracy off the San Francisco coast.