The Tutor’s sinking represents a recent escalation by the Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran, in their series of attacks on vessels in the strategic maritime passage due to the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.
Despite a prolonged U.S.-led operation in the area, which has resulted in the Navy facing its most severe naval combat since World War II, attacks on commercial ships and warships have continued almost daily.
The Tutor, a Greek-owned vessel flying the Liberian flag, sank in the Red Sea, as reported by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center of the British military, which issued a warning to sailors in the vicinity.
According to the UKMTO, military officials have observed debris and oil in the area where the Tutor was last seen, leading them to believe that the ship has indeed sunk.
The Houthis released video footage late Wednesday showing their assault on the Tutor, confirming that they deployed two drone boats to strike the vessel from different angles.
The U.S. military has not commented on the incident.
Approximately a week ago, the Tutor was targeted by a Houthi drone boat carrying explosives in the Red Sea. John Kirby, a spokesperson for the White House’s national security team, stated on Monday that the attack resulted in the death of a crew member from the Philippines. The Philippines has not yet confirmed the casualty, but the individual who was aboard the Tutor has been missing for over a week in the scorching heat of the Red Sea.
The potential threat of an attack similar to the 2000 USS Cole incident, where a boat loaded with explosives targeted the warship, has been raised due to the use of a boat loaded with explosives. This attack by al-Qaida took place in the Yemeni city of Aden, resulting in the death of 17 individuals on board. Currently, the USS Cole is involved in a U.S. Navy operation in the Red Sea, led by the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, in an attempt to prevent further Houthi attacks. However, the rebels persist in their assaults.
The Houthis have carried out over 60 attacks specifically targeting vessels and have also launched missiles and drones as part of their campaign. These attacks have resulted in the deaths of four sailors. Since November, they have seized one vessel and sunk two others. In response, a U.S.-led airstrike campaign has been conducted against the Houthis since January. The rebels claim that a series of strikes on May 30 resulted in the deaths of at least 16 people and the injury of 42 others.
In March, the Belize-flagged Rubymar, which was carrying fertilizer cargo, sank in the Red Sea after sustaining damage from a rebel attack.
The Houthis argue that their attacks are aimed at ships associated with Israel, the United States, or Britain. However, many of the targeted ships have little to no connection to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
On Wednesday, the shipping industry issued a joint statement expressing their dismay at the attacks on innocent seafarers who are simply carrying out their essential duties that ensure the world remains warm, fed, and clothed. They deemed this situation unacceptable and called for an immediate end to these attacks.
The conflict in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of over 37,000 Palestinians, with hundreds more killed in Israeli operations in the West Bank. It began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, resulting in approximately 1,200 casualties and around 250 individuals being taken hostage.
According to a recent report by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, container shipping through the Red Sea has decreased by 90% since December due to the attacks. This corridor is responsible for facilitating up to 15% of the world’s maritime traffic.
