US Navy ship frees hijacked tanker in Middle East waters

<p>A US Navy ship, assisted by a Japanese destroyer, the&nbsp;USS Mason, responded to a distress call from a commercial tanker in Middle Eastern waters:</p><ul><li>the&nbsp;Central Park is a small chemical tanker,&nbsp;carrying a cargo of phosphoric acid</li><li>had been&nbsp;seized by 5 armed pirates, they have been apprehended</li><li>an armed U.S. Navy helicopter provided overwatch</li><li> US officials say the tanker has now been freed</li><li>incident occurred in the Gulf of Aden</li></ul><p>Further reports indicate that&nbsp;2 Chinese warships in the area did not respond to the request for assistance.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Last week:</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.forexlive.com/news/iran-backed-terrorists-seize-ship-in-red-sea-20231119/" target="_blank" rel="follow">Iran-backed terrorists seize ship in Red Sea</a></li></ul><p><br></p><p><br></p><figure data-media-><img src="https://images.forexlive.com/images/gulf%20aden%20piracy%2027%20November%202023_id_fedf0311-1673-4e7f-b2d8-861272641628_size900.jpg" alt="gulf aden piracy 27 November 2023 2" width="842" height="727" wrapper-="wrapper-" data-src="https://images.forexlive.com/images/gulf%20aden%20piracy%2027%20November%202023_id_fedf0311-1673-4e7f-b2d8-861272641628_size900.jpg" /></figure><p>

<br></p><p>So far these examples of small-scale escalation in the Middle East have been contained.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at www.forexlive.com.