A bulk carrier in the Red Sea has reportedly sunk due to an attack by Yemeni Houthi rebels, resulting in the unfortunate death of a crew member from the Philippines.
This incident marks the second ship to be sunk by the Houthis, who are backed by Iran, as part of their campaign to disrupt shipping in the vital maritime corridor. Despite the ongoing US-led campaign in the region, which has seen intense maritime fighting reminiscent of World War II, the attacks continue.
The Tutor, a Liberian-flagged and Greek-owned-and-operated vessel, sank in the Red Sea. Military authorities have reported the presence of maritime debris and oil at the last known location of the ship. The Houthis have acknowledged their involvement in the sinking, citing foreign media reports from outlets under their control. However, the US military has not yet officially confirmed the sinking or provided any response to requests for comment.
The attack on the Tutor occurred approximately a week ago when a Houthi drone boat carrying a bomb targeted the vessel, resulting in the death of a Filipino crew member. The use of an explosive-laden boat raises concerns reminiscent of the al-Qaida attack on the USS Cole in 2000. The USS Cole is now part of a US Navy operation in the Red Sea, led by the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, with the aim of halting Houthi attacks.
Since November, the Houthis have launched more than 60 attacks specifically targeting vessels, using missiles, drones, and even seizing one vessel. They have successfully sunk two ships as part of their campaign. The ongoing US-led airstrike campaign against the Houthis has resulted in numerous casualties, with the rebels claiming that recent strikes in March alone have killed at least 16 people and injured 42 others.
The Houthis claim that their attacks are aimed at ships associated with Israel, the US, or the UK. However, many of the targeted vessels have little to no connection to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. It is important to note that this conflict has already claimed the lives of over 37,000 Palestinians in Gaza, as well as hundreds more in Israeli operations in the West Bank.
According to a report from a US defense intelligence agency, the recent attacks have had a significant impact on maritime traffic in the Red Sea. Container shipping has decreased by 90% since December. This is concerning as the Red Sea corridor is a crucial route for up to 15% of global maritime traffic.
In other news, the Houthis have reported that there were airstrikes led by the US targeting Raymah, a province in Yemen under rebel control. These airstrikes resulted in the destruction of a local radio station building. A week prior to this incident, similar strikes were reported to have caused the death of two individuals and injured nine others. However, the Houthis did not specify whether those affected were fighters or civilians. The US military’s central command has announced that it successfully destroyed eight Houthi drones in Yemen and one over the Gulf of Aden within the past day.
