Houthi attack on cargo ship kills 3 mariners
Dubai, United Arab Emirates — A recent assault by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on a Liberian-flagged cargo ship in the Red Sea has resulted in the deaths of three mariners and left two others injured, according to a European Union naval force report released on Tuesday. This attack on the Greek-owned vessel, Eternity C, follows a prior claim by the Houthis of having sunk another ship in the same region, raising concerns about a potential resurgence of Houthi aggression in this critical maritime corridor.
ETERNITY C (IMO: 9588249) is a Bulk Carrier and is sailing under the flag of Liberia. Her length overall (LOA) is 186.4 meters and her width is 27.8 meters.
Details of the Attacks
The Eternity C was en route to the Suez Canal when it came under fire from small boats and bomb-carrying drones late Monday night. Security personnel aboard the ship returned fire during the assault. While the Houthis have not officially claimed responsibility for this attack, both Yemen’s exiled government and the EU naval force have attributed it to the rebels. The EU force reported that one of the injured crew members suffered a severe injury, losing a leg in the incident. Currently, the crew remains stranded on the drifting vessel in the Red Sea.
In a separate incident, the Houthis targeted another Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier, Magic Seas, on Sunday. This attack involved drones, missiles, and small arms fire, compelling the crew of 22 to abandon ship. The rebels later announced that the Magic Seas had sunk in the Red Sea. These incidents mark the first Houthi attacks on maritime shipping since November 2024, potentially signaling the beginning of a new offensive by the Iran-backed group.
Implications for Maritime Security
The recent assaults, coupled with Israeli airstrikes targeting Houthi infrastructure in Yemen, have heightened fears of an escalating conflict that could involve U.S. and Western military forces. This situation is particularly precarious given the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, including the fragile ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict and Iran’s deliberations on its nuclear negotiations following U.S. airstrikes on its facilities.
Since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, the Houthis have launched numerous strikes against vessels in the Red Sea, claiming to act in solidarity with the Palestinians. Between November 2023 and January 2025, they targeted over 100 merchant ships, sinking two and resulting in the deaths of four sailors. This campaign significantly disrupted trade through the Red Sea, a vital route for approximately $1 trillion worth of goods annually. Although shipping activity has recently increased, it remains below normal levels.
The Houthis had refrained from attacking vessels until this weekend, following a U.S. military campaign against them that began in mid-March. With the recent resurgence of hostilities, maritime security in the Red Sea is once again under serious threat, raising alarms for international shipping and regional stability.
