Yemeni Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for sinking the cargo ship Tutor, owned by the Greek shipping company Evalend Shipping.
According to elespanol The vessel was attacked last week using "new weapons" and drones, according to the Houthi-controlled Yemeni news agency Saba.
An official source from the Houthi naval forces told Saba that "appropriate naval weapons" were used to sink the Tutor because it violated a blockade imposed on its company, Evalend Shipping, by sending its ships to "occupied Palestinian ports."
The rebels emphasized that the ship was targeted for its non-compliance with the blockade.
New Weapons and Drones Employed in Attack
The source detailed that new unspecified weapons and armed drones were used in the operation to target and sink the ship.
A video released by Saba showed the attack on the vessel.
The informant mentioned that an email was sent to Evalend Shipping, warning them of the consequences of violating the blockade.
It was noted that the ship had turned off its Automatic Identification System (AIS) while passing through the Red Sea, indicating it was aware of its blacklisted status but disregarded the crew's and ship's safety.
A Greek Coast Guard spokesperson told Agencia Efe on Thursday that one sailor was killed in the attack. The Houthi source urged all shipping companies to heed warnings from the Yemeni armed forces, stating that failure to do so would make them fully responsible for the safety of their vessels and crews.
Escalation in Maritime Attacks
This incident marks the second ship the Houthis have sunk since they began targeting merchant vessels in the Red and Arabian Seas last November.
They accuse these ships of being Israeli or linked to Israel, in retaliation for Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip.
Houthi actions against maritime navigation have intensified in the past two weeks, coinciding with increased airstrikes by the United States and the United Kingdom on Houthi positions.
These strikes are part of an operation launched in February to protect navigation in the Red Sea, a critical route for 15% of global trade.
