The Greek Ship Attacked By The Houthis Is Believed To Have Drowned In The Red Sea

JAKARTA - A Greek coal-carrying ship capsized in the Red Sea days after being attacked by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, according to a report published by the UK Maritime Trade Operation (UKMTO).

Reported by CNN, Wednesday, June 19, MV Tutor is thought to be the second ship to be sunk by the Houthis since March, when the British-listed Rubymar ship was shot down after being hit by a ballistic missile fired from Yemen's Houthi region.

Houthi rebels launched dozens of missile and drone attacks aimed at ships in the Red Sea and Aden Bay since Israel launched an invasion of Gaza following the Hamas-led October 7 attack.

Since then, tensions have risen in the Middle East, and major actors in the region strongly condemn the humanitarian crisis caused by Israeli bombings in Gaza for more than eight months.

Tutor was first hit on June 12 by a smaller boat before being hit for the second time by an unknown air projectile, according to UKMTO.

One of the crew members was reported missing following the attack, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said last week.

After the entire crew was evacuated from the ship, the ship began to drift before it was reported to have sunk on Tuesday, June 18, according to UKMTO.

A Houthi spokesman previously claimed the ship had been attacked by marine drones, ballistic missiles, and other drones for violating the so-called 'ban on occupied Palestinian ports.'

Houthi-run news, Al Masirah, acknowledged reports of foreign media regarding the sinking of the ship on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, CENTCOM said in X, Houthi claims to act on behalf of the Palestinian people in Gaza but they are targeting and threatening the lives of third citizens who have nothing to do with the conflict in Gaza. The continuing threat to international trade caused by Houthis in reality makes it more difficult to provide the much-needed assistance of Yemeni society and Gaza.

Earlier this month, CENTCOM launched an attack on the Houthi radar that helped facilitate the group's attack on ships in the Red Sea, according to US Central Command.