아덴만에서 미해군 구축함이 소말리아 해적 퇴치중 탄도미사일 공격을 받음

[위종민]

지난 11월 26일 이스라엘 사업가 소유의 유조선인 센트럴 파크 호가 해적에게 습격당했다고 신고해 미해군 구축함 USS 메이슨 (DDG-87)이 출동해 소말리아 해적 용의자 5명을 생포했는데, 1시간 40분 뒤에 후티 반군이 USS 메이슨과 센트럴 파크 호를 향해 두 발의 탄도미사일을 발사했다고 합니다. 발사체는 10마일 떨어진 곳에 떨어져 따로 조치를 하진 않았다고 하네요. 

근방에 인민해방군 함정 3척이 있었지만 미해군 함정과 따로 통신을 주고받지는 않았다고 합니다. 

https://www.airandspaceforces.com/us-thwarts-pirates-houthi-missile-attacks

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87) passes under the Friendship Bridge as the ship transits the Suez Canal, Nov. 4. Mason is attached to the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to help ensure maritime security and stability In the Middle East region. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Janae Chambers

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US, Allies’ Ships and Aircraft Thwart Pirates Despite Houthi Missile Attacks

Nov. 27, 2023 | By Chris Gordon

A chaotic series of events in which two ballistic missiles were fired from Yemen toward an American destroyer began with an apparently unrelated act of Somali piracy, the Pentagon said Nov 27.

The disclosure adds a new twist to an increasingly complex security situation in the Middle East despite a temporary truce in the Israel-Hamas war. 

“Clearly a piracy-related incident,” Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Patrick S. Ryder told reporters.

The episode began when the crew of the merchant vessel Central Park, a tanker owned by an Israeli businessman, put out a distress call that it was under attack Nov. 26. 

The USS Mason, a guided missile destroyer which was operating in the Gulf of Aden, heeded the alert. A team from the USS Mason embarked on a small boat, rushed toward the commercial ship, and captured five suspected pirates.

The U.S. personnel fired warning shots as the attackers tried to escape, but there was no return fire and nobody was injured.

“We’re continuing to assess, but initial indications are that these five individuals are Somali,” Ryder said.

U.S. Navy Sailors participate in a small boat training evolution alongside the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87) July 3, 2023. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Kaitlin Watt

In a statement released Nov. 26, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said “associated aircraft” were also involved, but Ryder declined to identify the type or number of aircraft involved.

“It was allied ships and aircraft that responded to this,” he said.

That, however, was not the end of the story. 

Around an hour and 40 minutes later, Houthi rebels in Yemen fired two ballistic missiles toward the USS Mason and Central Park in the early morning hours of Nov. 27 local time.

The Iran-backed Houthis had seized an Israeli-linked commercial vessel earlier this month in the Red Sea, shot down a U.S. Air Force MQ-9 drone on Nov. 8 and launched ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones toward Israel.

In this case, U.S. officials say the Houthis may simply have seized the opportunity to join the fray. 

“It’s not clear to us who they were targeting exactly,” Ryder said.

The Mason’s crew tracked the missiles but decided they did not need to take action since the projectiles landed roughly 10 miles from the USS Mason and the Central Park, the U.S. military said.

“They landed harmlessly in the water,” Ryder said.

The U.S. wasn’t the only nation on the scene according to the Pentagon. Three vessels from China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy were also near the Central Park when it made its distress calls, Ryder said. A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington said they could not immediately comment on the incident.

“Supposedly, those ships are there as part of a counter-piracy mission,” Ryder said of the Chinese vessels. “But they did not respond.”

[Minowski(김유철)]

후티 반군이 여러모로 대담한 도발을 감행하네요. 드론, 헬기강습, 탄도탄....

[위종민]

미군은 오늘은 또 발사된 탄도탄이 1발이고 (비행중 분해라도 된 건지? ) 화물선과 구축함을 노리진 않은 것 같다고 발표하네요. ( https://news.usni.org/2023/11/28/houthi-missile-likely-did-not-target-uss-mason-m-v-central-park-dod-says ) 상황을 관리하려고 하는 건지.

이 쯤 되면 이제 후티가 예멘의 본체가 아닌가 싶을 정도입니다.