US Navy returns fire after container ship attacked by Houthi rebels in Red Sea

The US Navy shot down two anti-ship missiles and destroyed Houthi boats as rebels attempted to board a container ship crossing the Red Sea. 

United States Central Command confirmed that helicopters from the nearby US warships Eisenhower and Gravely were responding to a distress call from the Singapore-flagged Maersk Hangzhou, when they were fired on.

In response, they returned fire "in self-defence", sinking three of the four small boats and killing the crews onboard. 

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During the incident, the USS Gravely shot down two anti-ship ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen toward the ships.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps posted on X that "Between November and December there's been a 500% increase in Houthi attacks on international shipping in and around the Red Sea".

He had been speaking to his US counterpart Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin about the ongoing illegal Houthi strikes. 

Secretary Austin said these attacks constitute a significant international problem that demands collective action.