A second cargo ship has sunk in the Red Sea after being attacked by Yemen’s Houthis, leaving at least three crew members dead and six survivors rescued. The Liberian-flagged Eternity C was hit by rocket-propelled grenades fired from small boats on Monday, causing significant damage and losing all propulsion.
The attack continued on Tuesday, prompting search and rescue operations to commence overnight. The Iran-backed Houthis claimed they attacked the ship because it was heading to Israel and took an unspecified number of crew members to a “safe location”. However, the US embassy in Yemen stated that the Houthis had “kidnapped many surviving crew members” and called for their immediate release.
The US has condemned the attacks, saying they demonstrate the ongoing threat posed by Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The group has targeted around 70 merchant vessels with missiles, drones, and small boat attacks since November 2023, sinking four ships and killing at least seven crew members.
The European Union’s naval mission in the Red Sea, Operation Aspides, is participating in the international response to the attack on the Eternity C. The group has said it is acting in support of Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Diplomatic efforts are being called for by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) following the new wave of attacks.
The incident marks a renewed threat to freedom of navigation and regional economic security, with innocent seafarers and local populations among the main victims of these attacks.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3071vp2d8yo