Red Sea Shipping Under Fire as Houthis Sink Another Cargo Vessel
A commercial ship sank in the Red Sea near Yemen this week after being attacked by Houthi forces, marking the second such incident in just days, according to European and maritime officials.
The vessel, Eternity C, was struck multiple times before sinking early Wednesday morning. Ten survivors were rescued from the water, while three others were killed. Several more remain missing and are believed to be held by the Houthis, an armed group that controls parts of Yemen.
Crew Members Rescued and Others Taken by Houthis
The European Union’s maritime security mission, Operation Aspides, confirmed that 25 people were on board at the time of the attack. Among them were 22 crew members — 21 Filipinos and one Russian — and three security personnel.
Rescuers recovered ten survivors, including eight Filipino sailors and two security staff from Greece and India. Six others are believed to have been taken to an undisclosed location by the Houthis.
Details of the Attack
The Eternity C, a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier operated by a Greek company, was reportedly harassed and struck for several days before sinking. According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the Houthis used rocket-propelled grenades and claimed responsibility, stating the vessel was targeted with an unmanned boat and multiple missiles as it allegedly headed toward Israel’s port of Eilat.
A video released by the Houthis shows the ship heavily damaged and sinking, alongside earlier radio messages in which they told the crew they would be safe.
The United States mission to Yemen called for the immediate release of the kidnapped crew members.
Rising Threat to Global Shipping
The attack on the Eternity C comes just days after another cargo ship, the Magic Seas, was similarly struck and abandoned in the Red Sea.
The Houthis have vowed to continue attacks on vessels they claim are linked to Israel until military operations in Gaza end. In a statement, the group said it would “continue our military operations in support of the oppressed Palestinian people… until the aggression against Gaza stops and the siege is lifted.”
In May, the Houthis agreed to stop targeting U.S. warships following American airstrikes but did not extend that to commercial vessels with alleged Israeli ties.
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