Following the recent sinking of the Eternity C cargo ship by Houthi militants, rescue operations are underway for the remaining crew members. This incident marks the second attack on cargo vessels within a week and has raised concerns regarding maritime security in the region.
Search Commences for Survivors After Second Houthi Attack on Cargo Ships in the Red Sea
Search Commences for Survivors After Second Houthi Attack on Cargo Ships in the Red Sea
The Houthi movement has reportedly sunk two cargo vessels in a week, leading to casualties and heightened tensions in the Red Sea.
Ten crew members were rescued, and at least three fatalities have been confirmed after a cargo ship, Eternity C, was sunk by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. This attack follows another recent incident where the Houthis sank the Magic Seas vessel, marking a dangerous escalation of tensions in the area.
The Eternity C, registered under Liberia and managed by a Greek firm, was targeted with rocket-propelled grenades fired from speedboats on Monday, which led to the ship sustaining grave damage and losing propulsion. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported that search and rescue operations started after the ship sank.
The Houthis justified their actions by claiming that the Eternity C was en route to Israel and warned that they had taken some crew to a "safe location." The U.S. embassy in Yemen has since accused the Houthis of kidnapping many of the surviving crew members and called for their prompt release. Among the crew were 21 Filipinos and one severely injured Russian national who lost a leg during the attack.
The European naval mission, Operation Aspides, announced that on Wednesday night, four more individuals had been rescued, raising the total number of survivors to ten. Maritime security firm Diaplous released a video showing the dramatic rescue of sailors who had been stranded in the water for over 24 hours. The efforts to find any remaining crew continue, with Diaplous pledging to search until the last light.
This incident represents the second maritime attack within a week by the Houthis, who sank the Magic Seas on Sunday using missiles and drones. All 22 crew members of the Magic Seas were rescued by a nearby commercial ship. The escalating pattern of attacks against shipping vessels now sees the Houthis having targeted approximately 70 merchant ships this year, resulting in the sinking of four and taking a fifth ship hostage.
International reaction has been swift, with the U.S. state department condemning these attacks as a significant threat to regional maritime safety and freedom of navigation. In a further development, Israel's air force intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, signaling the heightened military tensions in the region.
Calls for diplomatic interventions to curb such maritime violence have intensified. The secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization has emphasized that these repeated attacks violate international laws and pose undue risk to innocent seafarers and local communities alike.
