At least three sailors have been confirmed dead and 19 remain missing after the Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacked and sank the Eternity C, a Liberian-flagged, Greek-operated cargo ship in the Red Sea. The vessel, carrying 25 crew members, was struck by rocket-propelled grenades fired from small boats on Monday and Tuesday, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
The Houthis claimed responsibility for the assault, stating the ship was targeted due to its alleged connection to Israel. The Eternity C is the second cargo vessel the rebels have sunk in a week, following a similar attack on the Magic Seas on Sunday. Both vessels were operated by Greek firms and flew Liberian flags.
The European Union’s naval mission, Operation Aspides, confirmed the recovery of six crew members five Filipinos and one Indian — while the Philippine government said 21 of the crew were its nationals. One Russian crew member lost a leg in the attack. Maritime security firm Diaplous released footage on Wednesday of the rescue of five seafarers who had been adrift for over 24 hours.
The Houthis stated they had taken some crew members to a “safe location,” but the U.S. embassy in Yemen described the action as “kidnapping” and called for their immediate release.
Since November 2023, the Houthis have launched approximately 70 attacks on merchant vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, citing support for Palestinians amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. These assaults have resulted in the sinking of four ships, the seizure of another, and at least seven deaths.
The United States condemned the attacks, warning that they pose a serious threat to global maritime trade. “We will continue to take necessary action to protect freedom of navigation,” the U.S. State Department said.
International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez urged for renewed diplomatic efforts to halt the violence. “Innocent seafarers are the primary victims,” he said, stressing the environmental risks and humanitarian toll of the ongoing conflict.
