"US Navy Counters Houthi Maritime Threats, Defends Shipping in Red Sea"

US Navy helicopters from the USS Dwight D Eisenhower aircraft carrier and the USS Gravely successfully thwarted an attempted hijacking by Houthi militants in the Red Sea, destroying three of four attacking boats and driving off the fourth. The Houthi boats had opened fire on the Singapore-flagged Maersk Hangzhou, which had already been hit by a missile but was found seaworthy. The incident is part of a series of attacks on international shipping in the region, with the Houthi claiming they are targeting vessels linked to Israel in response to the conflict in Gaza. The US and its allies, including the UK, are working to secure the vital maritime route, with recent operations showing a decrease in successful attacks on merchant ships.