Tensions in the Red Sea escalated further as Yemen’s Houthi rebels sank the cargo ship Eternity C, killing at least three crew members and kidnapping others, according to European naval forces and the US State Department. The Liberian-flagged, Greek-operated vessel was struck by rocket-propelled grenades launched from Houthi boats. The attack began Monday and continued into Tuesday. Six crew members were rescued, but 19 remain missing, including several Filipino nationals and one severely wounded Russian crew member who lost a leg.
The Houthis claimed responsibility, alleging the ship was heading to Israel. The US embassy in Yemen accused the Houthis of kidnapping many of the surviving crew and demanded their immediate release. This marks the second ship sunk in a week by the Houthis, following Sunday’s attack on the Magic Seas, also Liberian-flagged and Greek-operated. That vessel was targeted for allegedly violating an “entry ban to ports in occupied Palestine.”
Since November 2023, the Houthis have launched over 70 attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Four vessels have been sunk, one seized, and at least seven crew members killed. In response, the EU’s Operation Aspides, along with maritime rescue firms like Diaplous, are conducting search efforts, vowing to continue “until the last light.” The US State Department condemned the “terrorist attacks,” reiterating support for freedom of navigation.
Despite a May ceasefire with the US, the Houthis continue targeting ships allegedly linked to Israel, the US, or the UK. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) condemned the renewed attacks as violations of international law, calling for urgent diplomatic solutions. The conflict poses severe threats not only to global trade routes but also to the safety of innocent seafarers, many of whom are from developing nations like the Philippines and India.
