Houthis Sink Second Red Sea Cargo Ship in a Week, Search for Survivors Underway

A devastating attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels has resulted in the sinking of a second cargo ship in the Red Sea within a week, prompting a desperate search for survivors. The Liberian-flagged, Greek-operated vessel, Eternity C, was carrying 25 crew members when it was struck by rocket-propelled grenades on Monday. The Houthis, who have been targeting shipping lanes in the region, claimed responsibility for the attack, stating the ship was bound for Israel.

The attack on the Eternity C, which reportedly continued into Tuesday, led to a significant loss of propulsion and considerable damage to the ship. International naval missions, including the EU’s Operation Aspides, are actively involved in the search and rescue efforts. As of Wednesday, six crew members have been recovered from the sea, with five confirmed as Filipino and one Indian. Tragically, at least three other crew members are reported to have died, and 19 remain missing. Maritime security firm Diaplous has released harrowing footage of the rescue of several seafarers who had been adrift for over 24 hours, vowing to continue the search until all missing crew are accounted for.

This latest incident marks a grim escalation in the Houthi’s maritime campaign. Just days earlier, the group sank another vessel, the Magic Seas, also Liberian-flagged and Greek-operated, using a barrage of missiles and drones. The Houthis claimed this attack was in retaliation for the ship’s alleged connection to a company violating entry bans to Israeli ports. While the 22 crew members of the Magic Seas were safely rescued by a passing merchant vessel, the continuing attacks underscore the severe risks faced by seafarers traversing these vital waterways.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have launched approximately 70 attacks on merchant vessels, employing missiles, drones, and small boats. These actions have resulted in the sinking of four ships, the seizure of one, and the deaths of at least seven crew members. The group asserts its actions are in solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, often falsely claiming to target only vessels linked to Israel, the United States, or the United Kingdom – nations that have retaliated with air strikes on Yemen.

The international community has strongly condemned these attacks. The US State Department has highlighted the “ongoing threat that Iran-backed Houthi rebels pose to freedom of navigation and to regional economic and maritime security,” reaffirming the US commitment to protecting commercial shipping. Despite a ceasefire deal reached with the US in May, the Houthis maintain their attacks on Israel, leading to continued retaliatory actions. The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, has called for intensified diplomatic efforts, denouncing the renewed attacks as a “deplorable violation of international law and freedom of navigation.” He emphasized that innocent seafarers and local populations bear the brunt of these assaults and the resulting environmental damage.

The relentless targeting of commercial shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden poses a significant threat to global trade and regional stability. The international response, including naval patrols and diplomatic pressure, continues as the search for missing crew and the investigation into these attacks proceed.