Houthi Militants Sink Second Cargo Ship in Red Sea Within Days

Yemen's Houthi rebels have sunk a second cargo ship in the Red Sea within a week, escalating tensions in the region and raising concerns over maritime security. The Liberian-flagged, Greek-operated vessel Eternity C was attacked with rocket-propelled grenades fired from small boats on Monday, causing significant damage and loss of propulsion. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency confirmed the incident, which resulted in the deaths of at least three crew members and the rescue of ten others.

The Houthis, backed by Iran, claimed responsibility for the attack, stating the ship was targeted because it was heading to Israel. They also asserted that an unspecified number of crew members were taken to a "safe location," a claim disputed by the US embassy in Yemen, which accused the group of kidnapping survivors. Authorities in the Philippines confirmed that 21 of the 25 crew members were Filipino nationals, with one Russian crew member severely injured and losing a leg in the assault.

Rescue operations, led by the EU's naval mission Operation Aspides and Greece-based maritime security firm Diaplous, saved four more individuals on Wednesday night, including three Filipinos and one Greek citizen. Diaplous released a video showing the rescue of at least five seafarers who had spent over 24 hours in the water. The firm vowed to continue searching for the remaining crew members "until the last light."

This marks the second vessel sunk by the Houthis in the past week. On Sunday, the group attacked the Liberian-flagged, Greek-operated Magic Seas, claiming it belonged to a company violating the entry ban to Israeli ports. All 22 crew members of the Magic Seas were rescued by a passing merchant vessel.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have targeted approximately 70 merchant vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, sinking four ships, seizing one, and killing at least seven crew members. The group claims its actions are in solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. However, their attacks have often targeted ships unrelated to Israel, the US, or the UK.

The US State Department condemned the attacks, emphasizing the threat they pose to freedom of navigation and regional maritime security. "The United States has been clear: we will continue to take necessary action to protect freedom of navigation and commercial shipping from Houthi terrorist attacks," a spokesperson stated.

In a related development, Israel's military reported intercepting a missile launched from Yemen on Thursday, though no further details were provided. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) called for intensified diplomatic efforts to address the renewed wave of attacks, warning that "innocent seafarers and local populations are the main victims of these attacks and the pollution they cause."

The recent escalation follows a May ceasefire agreement between the Houthis and the US, which did not include an end to attacks on Israel. The situation underscores the volatile security landscape in the Red Sea and the broader Middle East.