A Greek-owned bulk carrier named Tutor was attacked multiple times by Houthi forces while sailing south in the Red Sea towards India. The ship is now without control and waiting for help from coalition forces.
The attack occurred near the northern part of the Bab el-Mandeb strait, about 66 nautical miles southwest of Hudaydah, Yemen. The first attack was by a small surface drone, which struck the stern of the ship. This appears to be the first time the Houthi successfully used such a drone in an attack. These drones carry large explosives capable of causing significant damage.
Following this attack, there were reports of a fire in the engine room and that the ship was taking on water. The Tutor, built in 2022 and registered in Liberia, is managed by Evalend Shipping of Greece. U.S. Central Command confirmed the attack, noting that the ship had recently docked in Russia and was headed to India.
Later, the vessel was reportedly hit twice by airborne projectiles. The exact number of crew members and any potential injuries are not yet known. The Houthi claimed the ship was targeted due to its company’s involvement with banned ports, specifically Israel.
An International Maritime Organization report indicates that the Houthi have attacked 28 vessels in the first five months of 2024, with the ships registered across various countries including the Marshall Islands, Panama, Malta, Greece, Singapore, Portugal, Palau, and the U.S.
The Houthis have increased their attacks recently, also claiming to target Israeli ports, though no incidents have been confirmed there. U.S. forces recently intercepted multiple Houthi-launched missiles and drones in and over the Red Sea. The Italian frigate Virginio Fasan repelled two UAV attacks while protecting merchant ships, one in the Red Sea and another in the Gulf of Aden.