DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A recent assault by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on a Liberian-flagged cargo ship in the Red Sea has resulted in the deaths of three mariners and left two others injured, according to a European Union naval force announcement on Tuesday. This incident underscores the escalating risks from the group’s renewed efforts to target a vital maritime route crucial to international trade.
The strike on the Greek-owned Eternity C follows another attack by the Iranian-backed Houthis against a vessel on Sunday, which they claimed subsequently sank. This marks a shift as the first Houthi maritime assaults since late 2024, at a time when shipping traffic through the area had recently been increasing.
Wolf-Christian Paes, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, remarked, “This is the first significant attack on merchant shipping since December of last year. Now they have returned with significant force.”
Crew Remains Stuck on Drifting Vessel
The bulk carrier was en route north towards the Suez Canal when it came under assault from individuals in small boats as well as drones equipped with explosives late Monday night. Security personnel aboard the vessel responded by returning fire. Details were corroborated by both the EU Operation Aspides and private security firm Ambrey.
Though the Houthis have not yet claimed responsibility for the assault—something they often delay doing—Yemen’s exiled government and the EU, as well as the U.S. Embassy in Yemen, attributed the attack to them. The embassy stated, “The Houthis are once again demonstrating a complete disregard for human life, jeopardizing navigation freedoms in the Red Sea.” Injuries included one crew member losing a leg, and the crew remains stranded on the drifting ship.
Magic Seas Crew Abandoned the Vessel
In a separate incident, the Houthis attacked the Greek-owned, Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Magic Seas on Sunday. The crew of 22 was forced to abandon ship amid drone and missile fire.
On Tuesday night, the Houthis released a propaganda video showcasing their forces threatening the Magic Seas over VHF radio. The footage showed masked gunmen boarding the empty vessel after the crew had fled and later videos depicted them destroying the vessel, which ultimately sank. This display of aggression has drawn international condemnation.
The EU has warned that such attacks constitute a serious escalation that jeopardizes maritime security in the region, directly threatening stability and global trade. The humanitarian situation in Yemen, already dire, could be further exacerbated by these actions.
