US Navy rescues crew members from cargo ship struck by Houthis in the Red Sea
US sailors have airlifted to safety the crew of a merchant vessel that was attacked by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.
Members of the Dwight D Eisenhower carrier strike group assisted the mariners from the MV Tutor, a Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk cargo carrier.
The US Navy said the cargo ship had been struck by a Houthi uncrewed surface vessel (USV), resulting in severe flooding and damage to the engine room.
"The crew abandoned ship and were rescued by USS Philippine Sea and partner forces," US Central Command said.
"Tutor remains in the Red Sea and is slowly taking on water."
The incident was reported to and managed by watchkeepers at UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which acts as a hub to receive distress calls from ships in many parts of the world – including the Red Sea, which has seen an unprecedented 475% increase since November.
A Sea Hawk helicopter from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 74 airlifted 24 civilian mariners from the MV Tutor to the USS Philippine Sea.
"It's humbling to watch the strike group provide assistance and rescue the crew of M/V Tutor," said Rear Admiral Marc Miguez, the commander of IKECSG Carrier Strike Group 2.
"We are always prepared to help. It is the right thing to do."
Captain Steven Liberty, Philippine Sea's commanding officer, added: "Despite these senseless attacks on innocent mariners just doing their job, the Philippine Sea crew stand ready to help preserve the safety of life at sea - always,"
The mariners were transported to the USS Eisenhower by Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 7 helicopters and later flown ashore for further care after medical checks.
The day before, an air medevac was conducted from MV Verbena to HLMNS Karel Doorman, a support ship from the Royal Netherlands Navy ,to transfer an injured seafarer after his ship was hit in a Houthi missile attack.
Surgery was performed to save the individual's life, who is a citizen from Nepal.
Karel Doorman is a multipurpose ship with advanced medical capabilities provided both by the Netherlands and Sweden.
Prior to that, aircraft from USS Philippine Sea medically evacuated a severely injured civilian mariner from MV Verbena to a nearby ship for medical attention.
The Palau-flagged, Ukrainian-owned Verbena was sailing in the Gulf of Aden when it was struck by two anti-ship cruise missiles fired from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen.
The Dwight D Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group is deployed to the US 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security and stability in the Middle East region.
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