Video shows Houthis attack cargo ship with sea drone seemingly disguised as a fishing boat
- The M/V Tutor had serious flooding and was abandoned after it was struck by a small craft in the Red Sea last week
New video footage appears to show the moments before a Houthi naval drone – seemingly disguised as a slow-moving fishing boat – struck a commercial vessel in the Red Sea last week.
The Iran-backed rebels on Wednesday scored a hit on the M/V Tutor with an uncrewed surface vessel, causing severe flooding and damage to the engine room of the bulk cargo carrier, and forcing the crew to abandon the ship.
A video purporting to show the attack began circulating around social media on Sunday.
In it, armed security guards aboard what was identified as the Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned Tutor can be seen observing what seems to be the crude-looking naval drone – likely packed with explosives – as it slowly approaches the ship unobstructed.
Shortly after the attack was first reported, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, an element of the British Royal Navy, described the USV as a “small craft” that was white in colour and between 5-7 metres (16-23 feet) in length, matching the description of the drone in the videos.
Open-source intelligence accounts also shared photos of the apparent damage caused to the Tutor, revealing a clear puncture in the wall and water inside the vessel. US Central Command said the ship “remains in the Red Sea and is slowly taking on water”.