US Central Command said on Sunday that four boats belonging to the Houthis in Yemen attacked the container ship Maersk Hangzhou, shooting at it and approaching it to a distance of only 20 meters.

Central Command added that American helicopters came under fire from Houthi boats when they began responding to the Maersk ship's distress call, so the planes opened fire on the boats, sinking three of them and killing their crew members, according to what was reported by the Arab World News Agency.

The US Central Command confirmed that no harm was caused to American personnel or equipment.

Two shipping sources in the port of Hodeidah told Agence France-Presse that ten Houthis were killed and two others were injured as a result of the American bombing on the boats on Sunday.

The British Maritime Trade Operations Authority stated earlier today that it had received a report of an attack on a ship 60 nautical miles northwest of the Yemeni port of Hodeidah, and that an exchange of fire had occurred.

The authority added that 3 small boats attacked the left side of the ship, and that all of its crew were fine. She explained that the coalition forces intervened and the boats moved away.