"Not seeking wider conflict in Middle East": White House after US sinks Houthi ships in Red Sea
US helicopters sank three Houthi boats in the Red Sea, the White House issued a statement saying that it is not seeking a 'wider conflict' in the Middle East, CNN reported.
Notably, the US helicopters sinking the Houthi boats and killing its crew, marked the first instance when the US killed members of the Iranian-backed rebel group which has been targeting commercial and merchant vessels in the Red Sea since tensions broke out.
The US has avoided directly striking the group inside Yemen as it seeks to avoid escalating the crisis further. But a National Security Council spokesman said on Sunday that the US would continue acting in 'self-defense'.
«We don't seek a conflict wider in the region and we're not looking for a conflict with the Houthis.
The best outcome here would be for the Houthis to stop these attacks, as we have made clear over and over again,» John Kirby said on ABC News.
Four small boats originating from «Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen» attacked the Maersk Hangzhou on Saturday with small arms and attempted to board the merchant vessel, according to a statement from US Central Command, which added that a security team on board had returned fire.
CENTCOM said helicopters from the USS Eisenhower and Gravely responded to the Maersk Hangzhou's distress call, the second in less than 24 hours, and were fired on by the Houthi boats, CNN reported.
«The US Navy helicopters returned fire in self-defense, sinking three of the four small boats, and killing the crews. The fourth boat fled the area,» the statement said, adding that there was «no damage to US personnel or equipment.»
The Houthis have launched dozens of attacks on commercial vessels since October 7, saying they are acting in solidarity with Hamas
