RED SEA — Houthi fighters struck again in the Red Sea, sinking the cargo ship Eternity C in a deadly assault that left three crew members dead and at least 19 others missing. Six survivors have been pulled from the sea, European naval officials confirmed on Wednesday.
The Eternity C, a Liberian-flagged, Greek-operated bulk carrier with 25 crew onboard, was hit by rocket-propelled grenades launched from Houthi-operated boats on Monday. The vessel lost propulsion and remained disabled through Tuesday, when it sank in international waters.
The Houthis, who claimed responsibility, said they targeted the vessel because it was headed to Israel. The Iran-backed group later stated it had taken “an unspecified number” of crew members to what they called a “safe location.”
The U.S. embassy in Yemen strongly disputed that statement, accusing the Houthis of “kidnapping many surviving crew members” and demanded their immediate release.
Officials in the Philippines confirmed that 21 of the 25 crew were Filipino nationals. A Russian crew member suffered severe injuries, including the loss of a leg. One Indian national was among those rescued.
This marks the second vessel sunk by Houthi forces within a week. On Sunday, the same group fired drones and missiles at the Magic Seas, another Liberian-flagged ship operated by a Greek firm. The group alleged that the ship was tied to businesses operating in Israeli ports. All 22 crew from the Magic Seas were safely rescued.
Footage released by the Houthis earlier this week shows militants boarding the Magic Seas before setting off explosives that sent the vessel to the seabed.
Since November 2023, Houthi fighters have launched attacks on roughly 70 merchant ships using drones, rockets, and armed boats. Four vessels have been sunk. At least seven crew members have died, and dozens of others have been injured or abducted.
The Houthis maintain that the attacks are in support of Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas war. However, they have repeatedly targeted commercial ships with no confirmed Israeli affiliation. Many of these vessels were flagged or operated by third countries uninvolved in the conflict.
On Wednesday, Operation Aspides, the European Union’s Red Sea naval mission, confirmed its forces had recovered six survivors five Filipinos and one Indian from the water. Officials said 19 others remain unaccounted for.
Greece-based maritime security company Diaplous released video of five crew members being pulled from the sea after more than 24 hours adrift. “We will continue to search for the remaining crew until the last light,” the company stated.
While initial reports from maritime sources placed the death toll at three, Reuters cited other security firms saying four were presumed dead.
The U.S. State Department condemned the Houthi actions, warning of threats to global shipping routes and regional stability. “We will continue to take necessary steps to protect freedom of navigation and commercial shipping from these terrorist attacks,” the department said in a statement.
In a related development Thursday, Israel’s military said it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen. No additional information was released.
The Red Sea had seen a temporary lull in hostilities after a ceasefire agreement was announced in May between the U.S. and the Houthis following weeks of U.S. strikes on Houthi positions. However, Houthi leaders later clarified that the truce did not extend to actions against Israeli targets.
Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, called for renewed diplomatic pressure. “The resumption of these deplorable attacks is a blatant violation of international law and threatens the safety of innocent seafarers,” he said.
The Houthis’ continued escalation has reignited global concerns over the safety of one of the world’s most vital trade routes. Western naval forces, already stretched thin across the region, now face growing pressure to respond with stronger security guarantees.
As of Thursday evening, rescue operations in the Red Sea were still ongoing.
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