Yemen’s Houthi rebels have attacked another ship in the Red Sea, killing three mariners and wounding two others. The European Union naval force reported that the attack on the Greek-owned Eternity C was carried out by men in small boats and drone-bombing, resulting in significant damage to the vessel.
The incident follows a similar attack by the Houthis on Sunday, which they claimed had sunk a vessel. However, the EU has blamed the rebels for both attacks, highlighting the danger of their renewed campaign targeting key maritime routes for international trade.
“We haven’t seen any real attacks on merchant shipping since December last year,” said Wolf-Christian Paes, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. “And they’re back with a bang.”
The crew of the Eternity C remains stranded on the drifting vessel, while the Houthis have released propaganda videos showing their forces hailing the vessel and claiming responsibility for its sinking.
The attacks have drawn international criticism, with the EU warning that they directly threaten regional peace and stability, global commerce, and freedom of navigation. The incidents come at a sensitive moment in the Middle East, where a possible ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war hangs in the balance.
The Houthis have been launching missile and drone attacks against commercial and military ships in the region, with their campaign reducing trade through the Red Sea corridor by over 50%. The group’s leadership has described the attacks as an effort to end Israel’s offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/mideast-wars-yemen-houthis-israel-6dc55ee05a9d1e78621788aa0bc52168