According to a notice from the U.K. military’s Maritime Trade Operations center (UKMTO), a cargo ship was attacked by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea on Wednesday, resulting in the vessel sinking. As per The Associated Press, one sailor on board was presumed dead in the attack, marking the second fatal assault by the Houthis on global shipping.
In March of this year, a British-owned vessel was struck by a missile in a Houthi attack, resulting in no fatalities but severing multiple undersea communication cables. The Tutor, a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier, became the second ship to fall victim to a similar attack and ultimately sank.
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In March, at least three individuals lost their lives while four others were injured in a missile attack by the Houthi group on a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Aden, according to U.S. officials.
On Tuesday, the UKMTO issued a warning regarding the Tutor’s unfortunate incident. According to the warning, a small, white craft of approximately six yards in length struck the vessel on its stern on June 12. This collision caused the carrier to start taking on water. To make matters worse, the vessel was then struck by an unidentified airborne projectile. In response, the crew was promptly evacuated. Upon inspection, maritime debris and oil were discovered at the vessel’s last-known location, which strongly indicated that the Tutor had sunk.
On June 12, the crew of the Tutor faced an attack that caused significant damage and flooding to its engine room. The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group provided assistance in evacuating the crew, but unfortunately, one mariner is still missing. In a statement released on Monday, the severity of the damage caused by the attack was highlighted.
According to reports, 24 mariners were rescued from the Tutor by a navy helicopter and transported to the USS Philippine Sea for medical evaluations. The mariners were then flown to shore for further medical attention.
Since November, the Red Sea and surrounding waters have seen a persistent series of Houthi attacks on commercial vessels. The Houthis claim that these attacks are a direct response to the Israel-Hamas war. It is worth noting that the Yemeni rebel group is supported by Iran, much like Hamas.
In December, the United States made accusations that Iran was heavily involved in the attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.
The Verbena, a Ukrainian-owned vessel flagged in Palau, was sailing through the Gulf of Aden when it was hit by two anti-ship cruise missiles fired from Yemen’s Houthi-controlled territory. On June 13, the United States Navy conducted a mission to evacuate a critically injured mariner from the ship.
