Greek merchant ship evacuated after Houthi-led attack in Red Sea – JURIST

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Friday that the Tutor, a Greek merchant ship that was attacked by Houthi rebels, was evacuated and left adrift in the Indian Ocean. The incident occurred on Wednesday when Houthi militants fired rockets at the cargo ship. The Iran-backed Houthi militants have been attacking merchant ships with links to Israel since November 2023. The US and UK responded with military strikes.

The US Central Command stated in a press release at the time of the incident:

(…) The Iran-backed Houthis have fired two anti-ship missiles (ASBMs) from Houthis-controlled areas of Yemen over the Red Sea. No injuries or damage were reported to US, coalition or merchant vessels. In addition, an Iran-backed Houthis unmanned surface vessel (USV) rammed the M/V Tutor, a Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned and operated vessel, in the Red Sea. The M/V Tutor was last docked in Russia. The impact of the USV caused severe flooding and damage to the engine room.

This continued malicious and reckless behavior by the Iran-backed Houthis threatens regional stability and endangers the lives of sailors in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

A spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) released a Press release after the attack on the Tutor, arguing that the military operation against the Tutor ship in the Red Sea was due to the fact that “the company that owns it had disregarded the decision” of the Houthis to “prohibit the enemy from entering” ports.

The US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) released a report on Thursday on the impact of the Houthi attacks on international trade. The report says that at least 65 countries have been affected by the attacks in the Red Sea and “at least 29 major energy and shipping companies” have “changed their routes to avoid Houthi attacks”. It notes that the attacks “add to the ongoing strain on global maritime shipping caused by drought-related disruptions to the Panama Canal” and put the lives of crew members at risk. In addition, “humanitarian aid to Sudan and Yemen is delayed for weeks”.

In January, Britain and the United States imposed sanctions on “key figures in the Houthi regime” to “disrupt” the ability of Houthi militias to disrupt international trade through attacks in the Red Sea.

The Houthis explained on X that they will continue to act against Israel and prevent Israeli ships from “sailing in the Arabian and Red Seas in solidarity with the Palestinians.” Human Rights Watch commented in December that this was a war crime and stressed that the ships attacked by the Houthis were civilian vessels.

Hostage-taking is prohibited under international law, including Article 3 of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, and constitutes a war crime. In addition, Yemen is a party to “over 20 bilateral and multilateral investment treaties” that “provide protection to foreign companies.” The EU condemned the attacks in December as a violation of navigation rights and freedoms in its waters. The statement stressed that the attacks threaten the transport of food, fuel, humanitarian aid and other vital goods to destinations and populations around the world.

In January, Britain issued a joint statement on the attacks, saying:

The ongoing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea are illegal, unacceptable and deeply destabilising. There is no legal justification for targeted attacks on civilian vessels and warships.

Attacks on ships, including merchant vessels, using unmanned aerial vehicles, small boats and missiles – including the first use of anti-ship missiles against such vessels – pose a direct threat to the freedom of navigation that underpins global commerce on one of the world’s most important waterways.

We remain committed to a rules-based international order and are determined to hold malicious actors accountable for unlawful seizures and attacks.