The Houthis attack merchant ships with drones disguised as slow-moving fishing boats

• The Houthis last week used a naval drone to strike a commercial ship in the Red Sea.
• New footage circulating on social media shows the timing of the attack.
• The Navy drone, possibly loaded with explosives, appears to be an unmanned fishing vessel.

New video footage appears to show the moments before a Houthi naval drone – apparently disguised as a slow-moving fishing boat – rammed a commercial vessel in the Red Sea last week.

Iran-backed rebels attacked the M/V Tutor with a crude surface vessel on Wednesday, causing severe flooding and damage to the bulk cargo carrier's engine room and forcing the crew to abandon ship.

A video showing the attack started circulating on social media on Sunday. In it, armed security guards identified as the Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned Tutor can be seen watching a crude-looking naval drone – possibly packed with explosives – as it slowly approaches the blockaded vessel.

Shortly after the attack was first reported, UK Maritime Trade Operations, a component of the British Royal Navy, Described by USV As a “small craft” that is white in color and between 5-7 meters (16-23 ft) in length, it matches the description of the drone in the videos.

Open-source intelligence accounts have also shared its images apparent damage Created by Tutor, the inside of the ship reveals a clear dent in the wall and water. US Central Command said the vessel “remains in the Red Sea and is slowly taking on water.”

Business Insider could not immediately verify the footage or photos.

With the Tutor effectively stranded at sea, the crew was forced to evacuate. On Saturday, a US Navy helicopter airlifted 24 sailors from the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea. From there, the men then boarded the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. were taken to Eisenhower, where they were medically examined before going ashore.

One crew member is still missing, the Navy said disclosure on sunday.

“We're always ready to help; it's the right thing to do,” said Rear Adm. Mark Miguez, commander of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, a warship that has been at the forefront of the fight against the Houthis. .

Last week's attack marked the Houthis' first successful USV strike since they began targeting shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden last fall. In previous attempts, naval drones were either destroyed by Western forces, or they detonated them in the water without causing any damage.

The Tutor was not the only commercial shipping vessel hit last week. Iran-backed rebels also hit the M/V Verbena with multiple anti-ship missiles while the bulk cargo carrier was transiting the Gulf of Aden. the crew Finally abandoned their ship Due to the damage, it was the second such incident in the area in just a few days.

“This continued bad and reckless behavior by the Iran-backed Houthis threatens regional stability and endangers the lives of sailors in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden,” the US military said. said Saturday, adding that it “will continue to work with partners to hold the Houthis accountable and reduce their military capabilities.”