Four U.S. Army vessels that were part of the maritime humanitarian aid mission in Gaza encountered a mishap on Saturday when they broke free from their moorings due to heavy sea states.
The incident led to two of the vessels running aground on the Israeli coast, near Ashkelon, while the other two found themselves anchored near the floating pier off the Gaza coast.
Israelis look on as US soldiers stand a military vessel that ran aground at a beach in the coastal city of Ashdod on May 25, 2024. The US military said four of its vessels, supporting a temporary pier built to deliver aid to Gaza by sea, had run aground in heavy seas. (Photo by Oren Ziv / AFP) (Photo by OREN ZIV/AFP via Getty Images)
Despite facing bad weather and high seas, no injuries were reported among the personnel involved in this incident.
The situation unfolded as U.S. soldiers had to go ashore on the beach near Ashdod in Israel to assist in freeing the vessels that were stranded.
LOOK:
Day 2 of the US army landing craft LCM 8558 on the beach of Ashdod along with a tug that is often referred to as part of the floating pier but is actually a kind of vessel used to help move the pier. The tug broke free when the floating pier was being taken to Ashdod due to heavy… pic.twitter.com/NHwWBUCu16
— Seth Frantzman (@sfrantzman) May 26, 2024
The mishap occurred while these vessels were supporting a temporary pier built for delivering aid to Gaza by sea.
This unexpected turn of events caught the attention of both Israelis and international observers, with images circulating online showing efforts being made to dislodge and salvage the vessels.
The U.S. Central Command confirmed that no U.S. personnel would enter Gaza as part of this operation, emphasizing their commitment to ensuring that humanitarian aid continues to reach those in need without compromising safety protocols or escalating tensions in the region.
The Navy Times provided detailed coverage of the incident, describing how four Army vessels dedicated to the aid mission had faced challenges due to adverse weather conditions.
Despite President Joe Biden’s assurance in his State of the Union address that there would be no “boots on the ground” involved in supporting the pier, this unforeseen event necessitated on-ground efforts by U.S. soldiers to address the situation and prevent further complications.
The images captured during these rescue operations depicted a scene where military personnel worked diligently amidst challenging circumstances to secure and stabilize the affected vessels.
As news of this incident spread, it sparked discussions about the complexities and risks associated with providing humanitarian assistance in conflict zones such as Gaza.
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3 Comments
Biden desperate to get us into war before the election, Thinks it will get him re-elected.
he is trying everything .. that sly dog …
no, he (like all demon-rats) love death & debt. I thought he said “no boots on the ground”? Did he lie to us, again, today? and he will tomorrow…. yankee trash