Four U.S. Army vessels aiding the maritime humanitarian mission in Gaza have encountered difficulties due to rough seas in the region.
All four ships detached from their moorings, but the pier they were tied to remains in working order, and no injuries have been reported.
“The vessels broke free from their moorings and two vessels are now anchored on the beach near the pier,” stated U.S. Central Command. “The third and fourth vessels are beached along the Israeli coast near Ashkelon. Recovery efforts are in progress with assistance from the Israeli Navy.”
The incident took place in the morning European Eastern Standard Time, which is seven hours ahead of the United States.
“The IDF is supporting the recovery efforts near the pier,” the statement added. “No U.S. personnel will enter Gaza. No injuries have been reported, and the pier remains fully functional. We will provide additional details as they become available.”
The Army has not been directly involved in the Israel-Hamas conflict, though the U.S. does supply weapons and armaments to the Israel Defense Forces. The referenced pier is a floating pier installed by the U.S. to aid in the delivery of humanitarian aid. Three service members were recently injured while working on the pier, one critically.
U.S. officials acknowledged recently that “little relief has reached Palestinians in the besieged strip,” despite the significant effort. Many aid trucks have been looted.
