By Al-Fassel | 2024-06-25

As the Houthis attacked a merchant ship in the Gulf of Aden earlier in June, a nearby Iranian frigate stood idly by while the US military evacuated a wounded mariner and another cargo ship rescued the crew.

The crew of M/V Verbena issued a distress call on June 13 because they could not control fires ignited by a Houthi attack with two anti-ship cruise missiles, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.

Another cargo ship, the Anna Meta, rescued the crew.

"The Iranian frigate IRIN Jamaran was eight nautical miles from M/V Verbena and did not respond to the distress call," CENTCOM said.

Aircraft from US guided missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea evacuated a Sri Lankan crew member who was critically wounded, AFP reported.

This is not the first instance of its kind. The Iranian Navy has in past years ignored or failed to respond to distress calls from stranded Iranian mariners, leading to interventions by other nations' naval forces to ensure safety at sea.

'Pure terrorism'

On June 23, the Houthis struck the Liberian-flagged carrier M/V Trans World Navigator with a drone, causing several injuries to sailors onboard.

On June 12, the Houthis struck the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier M/V Tutor, which is since "believed to have sunk," with seaborne and aerial drones as well as ballistic missiles, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said June 19.

"Military authorities report maritime debris and oil sighted in the last reported location," said UKMTO, which is run by the British navy.

A Filipino sailor was killed, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said June 17.

"This is pure terrorism. There's simply no other word for it," he said.

Sailors assigned to the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group airlifted 24 crew members to safety by helicopter on June 15.

The civilian mariners were transported to guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea and onwards to USS Eisenhower. After a checkup, they were flown ashore for follow-up care, DVIDS reported.

Civilian casualties

The first reported fatalities from the Houthis' attacks occurred in the Gulf of Aden March 6, when an attack on M/V True Confidence killed three crew members and wounded four others.

More than two dozen mariners taken hostage during the Houthis' January 17 hijacking of the Galaxy Leader vehicle carrier remain in the group's hands.

Managers of the Galaxy Leader on June 19 renewed calls for the release of the vessel's crew, Al-Arabiya reported.

The Houthis claim to be targeting US-, British- and Israeli-linked vessels in their attacks, but they have affected ships with connections to scores of countries.

The Filipino sailor killed was on M/V Tutor, a Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned ship that had "nothing to do with the conflict in Gaza," Kirby said.