Crew of Greek Ship Attacked by Houthis Evacuated; One Person Missing

The UK Maritime Trade Operations organization announced on Friday, June 15, that the crew of a Greek-owned ship damaged in an attack by Houthi militants in Yemen has been evacuated, and the abandoned vessel is moving in the Red Sea. Philippine officials say one of the crew members of the 'Toter,' a coal-carrying ship flying the Liberian flag, is missing. The attack on Wednesday, June 14, near the port of Hodeidah in Yemen caused severe flooding and damage to the ship's engine room, rendering 'Toter' unable to maneuver. The Houthis, linked to the Islamic Republic of Iran, claimed responsibility for the missile attack on 'Toter' and another ship named 'Verbena' in the Gulf of Aden in recent days. Since November, the Houthis have carried out dozens of drone and missile attacks on ships in the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and Gulf of Aden, claiming these actions are in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza. They have sunk one ship, seized another, and killed three sailors in separate attacks. Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, condemned these attacks in a statement, saying, 'This situation cannot continue.' Hans Cadac, Secretary of the Philippine Migrant Workers Office, stated at a press conference in Manila that 22 crew members of 'Toter' are mainly Filipinos. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., President of the Philippines, said that officials are coordinating with the UK Maritime Trade Operations organization to transfer the crew to Djibouti and return them home. The missing crew member is believed to be trapped in the engine room, but efforts to find him are ongoing. Reuters reported that two vessels from the 'Zouliris Salvage Group' are tasked with towing 'Toter,' which is carrying 80,000 tons of coal. Houthi air and naval attacks have disrupted global shipping. The US Defense Intelligence Agency reported that this issue has affected at least 65 countries and major energy and transport companies, including 'Shell' and 'BP.' The Iran-backed Houthis currently control Sana'a, the capital of Yemen, and parts of its northern regions, temporarily designating the city of Aden as their capital. The Houthis are currently listed as terrorist groups by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Malaysia.