According to officials from United States Central Command (CENTCOM), an attempted missile strike targeted the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Mason while in Yemeni waters. The report, attributed to CENTCOM through RIA News, outlines a tense moment unfold on a dated mission timeline.
On the specified date, CENTCOM stated that two ballistic missiles were launched from areas controlled by the Houthi movement in Yemen. The attacks were directed toward the general vicinity of the guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87) and the vessel USS Central Park, signaling an escalation in maritime hostilities in the region.
Both missiles did not hit their intended ships. Instead, they fell into the Gulf of Aden roughly ten nautical miles from the targeted vessels. In response to a distress signal from the tanker Central Park, USS Mason moved to the area’s waters off Yemen to assist as needed, illustrating a rapid reaction to a developing maritime emergency.
Earlier events involving the same maritime corridor included U.S. forces detaining individuals suspected of piracy who had attacked the tanker Central Park off Yemen’s coast. The sequence of events highlights ongoing security challenges in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden area, where commercial traffic and naval patrols interact in a high-risk environment.
There were reports indicating actions involving former Houthi elements in the region, including assertions that a high-profile vessel was captured during a separate operation. These claims contribute to a broader narrative about the volatility of the Yemen maritime landscape and the international efforts to ensure safe passage for commercial ships and humanitarian aid.
In the days and hours following the incident, military officials and defense analysts reviewed the trajectory data, potential escalation triggers, and the preparedness posture of allied fleets operating in the vicinity. The event underscores the importance of persistent surveillance, rapid response capabilities, and coordinated communications among regional partners to deter further threats and protect critical maritime routes.
Experts continue to assess the strategic implications for naval diplomacy in the Red Sea, the Bab el-Mandeb strait, and adjacent maritime lanes. Observers note that continued vigilance remains essential as navigation safety depends on timely intelligence sharing, disciplined command-and-control procedures, and robust international cooperation to maintain freedom of navigation in this contested theatre. Attribution for the information in this report is provided by CENTCOM and corroborating outlets such as regional defense briefings and corroborating agency summaries.