Qatari network Al Jazeera released footage Wednesday showing the attack on the Greek-owned vessel TUTUR in the Red Sea by Houthi forces. The assault, which occurred last week, led to the sinking of the ship after its crew was rescued by the United States Navy.
According to a Houthi spokesperson, the attack was carried out using drones, ballistic missiles, and unmanned vessels, with one of the unmanned vessels ramming the ship's stern. This caused water to flood the engine room. Video footage from within the ship showed the terrified crew moments before their rescue.
The Houthis via Al-Jazeera published documentation of two unmanned surface vehicles targeting the Greek-owned commercial vessel Tutor. pic.twitter.com/f70KgQ04YL
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) June 19, 2024
The Iran-backed Houthis recently announced a "new phase" of operations in the Red Sea, demanding an end to the IDF anti-terrorism campaign in the Gaza Strip as a condition for halting their attacks. They claimed the targeted ships were "sailing without permission" to Israeli ports.
Videos from the Filipino sailors of M/V Tutor, a Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned, and operated bulk cargo carrier, captures the June 12 attack by Iranian-backed Houthis. The attack, carried out with an uncrewed surface vessel #USV [suicide boat drone] built on the hull of a… pic.twitter.com/aLLaWnAK93
— Basha باشا (@BashaReport) June 17, 2024
In response, the US Central Command announced the destruction of two Houthi command, control, and communication stations, along with two unmanned vessels in the Red Sea.
Over the past few weeks, the US and Britain have conducted several airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas near the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah. The strikes targeted radars, vessels, launchers, and other weaponry.
