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<\/p>\nIRAN-BACKED rebels fired two missiles at a US Navy warship off the coast of Yemen after hijacking an Israeli tanker. <\/p>\n
The USS Mason managed to drive away five hijackers who seized chemical tanker Central Park in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday.<\/p>\n
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Armed attackers took control of the ship on Sunday – with a warning from the UK military describing "two black-and-white craft carrying eight persons in military-style clothing".<\/p>\n
The US Navy was called in and demanded the tanker to be released before five of the attackers tried to escape on a boat. <\/p>\n
They were chased down and eventually captured by the Navy.<\/p>\n
Although the US has not identified the attackers, Houthi forces fired two ballistic missiles from Yemen at the warship as the Navy moved in to arrest the armed hijackers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
USS Mason tracked the missiles, which landed about 10 nautical miles away from them.<\/p>\n Sources told Fox News that Houti rebels threatening US Navy vessels marked a "significant escalation". <\/p>\n Yemen's Houthis were officially recognised as a terrorist organisation in the US under Trump – until Biden removed the militants from the list in 2021.\u00a0<\/p>\n They previously vowed to target<\/span> all ships owned by Israel or flying their flag in the Red Sea.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n The US said\u00a0the ship, which was carrying phosphoric acid, and its crew was now safe.<\/p>\n Central Park is owned by London-based Zodiac Maritime, which is part of Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer's Zodiac Group.<\/p>\n On Monday morning, Zodiac said the vessel and its crew of 22 sailors from Bulgaria, Georgia, India, the Philippines, Russia<\/span>, Turkey<\/span> and Vietnam were unharmed.<\/p>\n "We would like to thank the coalition forces who responded quickly, protecting assets in the area and upholding international maritime law<\/span>," the company said.<\/p>\n Zodiac Maritime has been targeted before amid conflict between Iran<\/span> and Israel.<\/p>\n Two crew members were killed on board one of Zodiac's other ships, Mercer Street, in 2021.<\/p>\n The US identified the deadly drone attack to have come from Iran.<\/p>\n The US Central Command said USS Mason responded to a distress call "they were under attack by an unknown entity". <\/p>\n "Upon arrival, coalition elements demanded release of the vessel," it said.<\/p>\n "Five armed individuals debarked the ship and attempted to flee via their small boat.<\/p>\n "The Mason pursued the attackers resulting in their eventual surrender.<\/p>\n "Two ballistic missiles were fired from Houthi controlled areas in Yemen toward the general location of the USS Mason and Central Park. <\/p>\n "The missiles landed in the Gulf of Aden approximately ten nautical miles from the ships. There was no damage or reported injuries from either vessel during this incident."<\/p>\n Just last week another\u00a0Israeli-owned cargo ship was hijacked by the Iran-backed militia\u00a0in the Red Sea.<\/p>\n Chilling footage showed a\u00a0chopper landing on the cargo carrier before several gunmen\u00a0made their mad dash on board.<\/p>\n UK Maritime Trade Operations put the November 19 hijacking as having occurred some 90 miles off the coast of Yemen's port city of Hodeida, near the coast of Eritrea.<\/p>\n The Houthi militants stormed the desk and held the international crew of 25 at gunpoint during the brutal attack.<\/p>\n Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin\u00a0Netanyahu\u00a0slammed the capture of the cargo as "terrorism".<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/newspress-collage-h8zj9brx5-1701048297135.jpg\")
<\/picture>HOSTAGE AGONY <\/span><\/p>\nHamas claims dozens of child hostages being held by unknown 'gangs' in Gaza<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/newspress-collage-v1w0c53gr-1700961223495.jpg\")
<\/picture>TERROR ROCKET <\/span><\/p>\nIran unveils chilling new missile \u2018to beat Israel's defences at 11,000mph\u2019<\/h3>\n
Most read in The Sun<\/h2>\n
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<\/picture>ROSE WHINE <\/span><\/p>\nI’m A Celeb in ‘sexism’ row as Nella Rose slammed over ‘toxic’ views about men<\/h3>\n
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<\/picture>WALTZ OFF <\/span><\/p>\nStrictly fans left baffled as ‘editing blunder’ is exposed during results show<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/newspress-collage-pehllqp9z-1701025738753.jpg\")
<\/picture>FOUND SAFE <\/span><\/p>\nGirl, 9, who vanished while walking a puppy has been ‘found safe and well’<\/h3>\n
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