The distress call from the Maersk Hangzhou prompted helicopters from nearby US warships, including the USS Eisenhower aircraft carrier and USS Gravely destroyer, to respond. Faced with hostile actions, the helicopters engaged in self-defense measures, sinking three of the Houthi boats and eliminating their crews. The fourth boat retreated from the area.

The Houthi rebel group, backed by Iran, has been targeting ships in the Red Sea since November, citing opposition to vessels associated with Israel in response to the conflict in Gaza. The attacked commercial ship, Maersk Hangzhou, is registered in Singapore and operated by a Danish company, according to US Central Command (Centcom).

Maersk, a prominent global shipping company, announced a temporary suspension of sailings through the Red Sea for 48 hours in light of the incident.

The Houthi boats, armed with mounted weapons and small arms, approached the container ship around 06:30 Yemeni time. The ship's crew resisted the boarding attempt, issued a distress call, and engaged in a firefight with the attackers.

This marks the second attack on the Maersk Hangzhou within 24 hours, as it was targeted with missiles on the previous day. The destroyers Gravely and Laboon, responding to the missile attack, faced anti-ship missiles fired from Houthi-controlled areas. Centcom revealed that this missile strike was the first successful one since the launch of a global patrol on December 18.

Despite the intense situation, no damage was reported to US personnel or equipment. The incident underscores the ongoing challenges in the region and the need for vigilance in maritime security efforts, especially in response to Houthi aggression in the Red Sea.