Image compilation: South24 Center
Houthis Release Video of Attack on Greek Cargo Ship in Red Sea
News
Thu, 20-06-2024 01:34 PM, Aden
Aden (South24)
On Wednesday evening, the Houthi militia released a video documenting their maritime attack on the Greek cargo ship, Tutor, in the Red Sea on June 12, using two unmanned boats - a first for the group.
On June 18, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that the vessel was “believed to have sunk" east of Eritrea.
"Military authorities report maritime debris and oil sighted at the last reported location” the report added.
The video, filmed by the Houthis from two different angles, showed two violent explosions as the boats, seemingly carrying explosives, collided with the front and middle sections of the vessel.
The footage was seemingly filmed from other boats positioned near to the Tutor. After the explosions, voices of militia members can be heard chanting, "God is great, death to America, death to Israel..."
In the video, the Houthis claim they had sent emails to shipping companies warning that their vessels would be "blacklisted" if they entered Israeli ports.
The militia added that a vessel belonging to the Greek company, Evalend Shipping Co. S.A., entered Haifa Port on May 18 and was notified of violating the ban.
On Thursday, the UK announced that the crew of the Greek ship “Tutor” was missing.
The British Ambassador to Yemen, Abda Sharif, said on "X" (previously Twitter): “Saddened by the reports of missing crew on MV Tutor.”
"The reckless Houthi attacks once again have tragic consequences, threaten the environment and livelihoods of Yemeni people," she added, without giving further details.
The Houthis continue to try and justify their attacks on commercial ships by linking them to the situation in Palestine.
On Monday, John Kirby, the U.S. National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications, stated that the attack on the Greek ship had resulted in the death of a Filipino crew member.
Early on Thursday morning, U.S. Central Command announced that over the past 24 hours, its forces “successfully destroyed two Iranian-backed Houthi uncrewed surface vessels (USV) in the Red Sea.”
The statement added that separately, U.S. forces also destroyed “one ground control station and one command and control node in a Houthi controlled area of Yemen.”
On Tuesday and Wednesday, US-UK aircraft bombed Houthi sites in the provinces of Hodeidah and Raymah in North Yemen.
Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah TV reported that five airstrikes were launched against Hodeidah airport, and four on Kamaran Island in the Red Sea.
On Wednesday, US and UK warplanes targeted the government complex in Al Jabin district in Raymah with four airstrikes, while three strikes hit the Al-Durayhimi district in Hodeidah, according to Houthi media.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of State announced new sanctions on three individuals and six entities alleged to have facilitated arms purchases by the Houthi militia.
According to the U.S. State Department, some of the sanctioned entities are based in China and have enabled the Houthis to generate revenue.
This announcement came as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the latest developments in Yemen with his Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan, amid ongoing peace efforts and escalation in the Red Sea.
“The United States remains resolved to use the full range of our tools to halt the flow of military-grade materials and funds from commodities sales that enable these destabilizing terrorist activities,” Brian Nelson, the Treasury Department’s Under Secretary of the Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, said in a statement.
On Thursday , the leader of the Houthis claimed they had targeted 153 commercial and military ships since beginning their attacks in November 2023.
On June 10 this year, South24 Center reported that the Iran-backed group had targeted 125 commercial and military ships up until May 31, 2024.
Related: ‘South24 Center’ Exclusive Survey: Houthis Attacked 125 Ships in Four Seas
The escalation by the Houthis threatens to expand the conflict on a local level, diminishing the prospects for peace that had emerged over a year of a fragile truce between the warring parties in Yemen.
South24 Center
YemenRed SeaCentral CommandUS NavyHouthisBoatsTutorMaritime attackHodeidah