Yemen’s Houthis on Wednesday claimed responsibility for attacking and sinking the Eternity C cargo ship in the Red Sea, reported Reuters.
The Houthis also claimed responsibility for a similar attack on another carrier on Sunday, in which the vessel’s crew was rescued before it sank.
Claiming Responsibility
In a televised address, the Iranian-backed group’s spokesperson, Yahya Saree, claimed the attack on the ship, saying it was heading to an Israeli port.
“The operation resulted in the complete sinking of the ship,” he said, adding that “the Yemeni Navy responded to rescue a number of the ship’s crew, provide them with medical care, and transport them to a safe location.”
Attack on Eternity C
The Eternity C sank on Wednesday, after enduring attacks on Monday and Tuesday. Four of its 25-member crew were killed, six were rescued, while 15 are still missing, Reuters quoted sources at security companies involved in a rescue operation.
The attack on Eternity C started on Monday afternoon with sea drones and rocket-propelled grenades launched from speed boats, according to maritime security sources.
The attacks continued through Tuesday, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel and jump into the water. The crew included 21 Filipinos and one Russian, in addition to 3 armed guards, including one Greek and one Indian, who was one of those rescued.
The European Union (EU) Naval Force, Aspides, confirmed pulling six crew members from the sea. “Following the attack on the merchant vessel Eternity C in the southern Red Sea, currently six (6) castaway crew members have been recovered from the sea,” it said.
Targeting Vessels
The attack on Eternity C was the second in recent days, following an earlier attack on the Magic Seas cargo ship on Sunday. However, the vessel’s crew was rescued before it sank in the Red Sea. Both vessels were Liberian-flagged and operated by Greek companies.
Commenting on the attacks, leading shipping industry associations said in a joint statement: “These vessels have been attacked with callous disregard for the lives of innocent civilian seafarers and as an inevitable but terrible consequence, seafarers have been killed.”
The statement urged for collaborative efforts to protect maritime shipping. “This tragedy illuminates the need for nations to maintain robust support in protecting shipping and vital sea lanes,” it said.
Houthi Attacks on Shipping
The Houthis have targeted ships in the Red Sea since November 2023, in solidarity with the Palestinians against Israel, attacking more than 100 ships until December 2024. However, they stopped their attacks during a two-month ceasefire in the Gaza war.
The US carried out heavy airstrikes against the Houthis in March 2025, in response to their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. Then, in May 2025, the Iranian-backed group reached a ceasefire with Washington, brokered by Oman.
Moreover, Israel has launched strikes against Houthi sites in Yemen, including Hodeidah, Ras Isa and Salif ports, in response to the group’s missile attack on Israel.
