US Navy rescues crew of merchant ship attacked by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea

Sailors assigned to the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group render aid to sailors in distress in the Red Sea on Saturday, June 15, 2024. (US Navy)

Sailors from the Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier battle group on Saturday flew out the crew of a merchant ship that was attacked by the Iran-backed Houthis in the Red Sea.

The Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier M/V Tutor was rammed by an unmanned surface vessel belonging to the Iran-backed Houthi militia while sailing in international waters of the southern Red Sea on Wednesday, according to a service press release.

“The crew abandoned ship and were rescued by the USS Philippine Sea and its partner forces,” the Central Command said on Saturday. “The Tutor is still in the Red Sea and is slowly taking on water.”

Sailors assigned to the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group render aid to sailors in distress in the Red Sea on Saturday, June 15, 2024. (Abbigail Beardsley/US Navy)

Rescued sailors board a C-2A Greyhound on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Red Sea on Saturday, June 15, 2024. (Abbigail Beardsley/US Navy)

A helicopter from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 74 transported 24 civilian sailors from Tutor to the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea. From there, helicopters from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 7 transported the group to the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. After a medical examination, the sailors were flown ashore for further treatment.

“Despite these senseless attacks on innocent seafarers who are only doing their jobs, the crew of the Philippine Sea stands ready at all times to help preserve the safety of life at sea,” said Captain Steven Liberty, the commanding officer of the Philippine Sea.

On Thursday, the M/V Verbena reported damage and subsequent fires on board. A civilian sailor was seriously injured. Aircraft from the USS Philippine Sea evacuated the injured sailor to a nearby partner ship for medical treatment, CENTCOM said.

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group is operating in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of ​​operations to support maritime stability and security in the Middle East.

Contributors: The Associated Press