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Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group has claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier in the Red Sea earlier this week, stating it targeted the vessel over alleged links to Israel.
The assault, which took place over two days, left three crew members dead and 19 others missing.
The group stated that the Eternity C was targeted because it was allegedly headed for the Israeli port of Eilat, framing the assault as part of its ongoing campaign in support of Palestinians in Gaza. A Houthi military spokesperson said the operation, which began Monday and continued into Tuesday, involved an unmanned vessel along with six cruise and ballistic missiles, ultimately leading to the ship’s sinking.
According to Operation Aspides, the European Union’s naval task force in the Red Sea, three crew members aboard Eternity C were killed and at least two others were wounded, including a Russian electrician who lost a leg. Nineteen crew members remain missing, while five Filipinos and one Indian national were rescued.
The U.S. embassy, operating from neighboring Saudi Arabia, accused the Houthi group of kidnapping surviving crew members not rescued by international forces. In a statement on X, it condemned the group for obstructing rescue efforts and demanded the “immediate and unconditional” release of the abducted individuals..
The Eternity C sinking followed Monday’s attack on the Magic Seas, another bulk carrier reportedly targeted due to its owner’s previous business with Israel. The group released footage of armed members boarding the vessel, accompanied by explosions that led to its sinking.
These attacks are the first by the group on commercial vessels since a U.S.-led bombing campaign ended with a May ceasefire. Houthi officials warned that ships connected to Israeli ports or companies would be targeted until Israel ends its blockade and military campaign in Gaza.
The renewed assaults come amid heightened regional instability. The UN special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, expressed concern over the “civilian loss of life” and the risk of “environmental damage.” He cautioned that Yemen should not be pulled further into broader Middle East conflicts.
Since late 2023, the Houthi group has launched repeated attacks on Red Sea shipping routes, claiming solidarity with Gaza. These operations have forced many shipping firms to reroute vessels around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, disrupting approximately 12 percent of global trade that typically passes through the Red Sea.
The U.S. embassy described the attack on Eternity C as the group’s “most violent” action yet. Meanwhile, Israel has responded with multiple airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen, including one over the past weekend.
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