ATHENS: A fresh wave of attacks in the Red Sea by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi militia has left four crew members dead, 15 missing, and two commercial ships sunk in just three days. The assaults mark the deadliest escalation in months, ending a brief period of calm in the strategic waterway.
On Wednesday, rescue teams pulled six crew members alive from the sea after the Eternity C, a Liberian-flagged cargo ship, sank following repeated attacks on Monday and Tuesday. The Magic Seas, another vessel also flying the Liberian flag, sank earlier this week. All its crew were rescued.
The Houthis, who had paused their campaign earlier this year, claimed responsibility for both attacks, citing their continued support for Palestinians amid the Gaza conflict.
Deadly Assault on Eternity C
According to maritime security firms involved in the rescue, the Eternity C was first struck on Monday afternoon. Militants fired rocket-propelled grenades from speedboats and deployed sea drones, severely damaging the vessel and destroying lifeboats.
By Tuesday morning, the ship was adrift and listing. It suffered a second drone attack that forced the crew and onboard armed guards to abandon ship. Rescuers say some seafarers were in the water for more than 24 hours before they were rescued on Wednesday.
Four people died before the crew escaped the sinking vessel. If confirmed, these would be the first fatalities from Red Sea shipping attacks since June 2024.
An official from Diaplous, a Greece-based maritime risk management firm, said, “We will continue to search for the remaining crew until the last light.”
The EU’s Aspides naval mission, tasked with protecting commercial vessels in the Red Sea, confirmed the rescue of six individuals.
Shipping Industry Condemns ‘Callous Attacks’
The shipping industry responded with outrage. In a joint statement on Wednesday, major shipping associations condemned the attacks and urged governments to take stronger action.
“These vessels have been attacked with callous disregard for the lives of innocent civilian seafarers,” the statement read. “This tragedy illuminates the need for nations to maintain robust support in protecting shipping and vital sea lanes.”
Both the Eternity C and Magic Seas were operated by Greek companies. Maritime data shows some of their sister ships visited Israeli ports over the past year, possibly making them targets for Houthi forces, who had previously warned against such links.
The Houthi military spokesperson claimed in a televised statement that they had helped rescue some crew and offered medical aid.
Red Sea Shipping Disrupted, Oil Prices Rise
The renewed attacks have rattled commercial traffic in the Bab al-Mandab strait, a narrow and critical waterway at the southern tip of the Red Sea. The strait is essential for global oil, grain, and container trade, serving as a gateway to the Gulf of Aden and the Suez Canal.
Shipping activity has slowed. According to Lloyd’s List Intelligence, the number of daily vessel transits dropped from 43 on July 1 to just 30 by July 8.
The fallout has also hit global markets. Oil prices on Wednesday climbed to their highest levels since June 23, driven in part by concerns over shipping disruptions in the Red Sea.
Traffic through this corridor has declined since the Houthis began targeting vessels in November 2023 in what they described as solidarity with Palestinians during the Gaza war. Between November 2023 and December 2024, over 100 ships were attacked.
Crew Details, Ongoing Rescue, and Regional Diplomacy
The Eternity C had 25 people onboard, including 21 Filipino crew members, one Russian, and three armed guards—one Greek and one Indian among them. Rescuers saved the Indian guard along with five other crew members.
Security sources reported spotting skiffs near the sinking vessel during the operation, which raised fears that the Houthis may have kidnapped some crew members. Authorities have not yet confirmed any abductions.
Cosmoship Management, which operates the vessel, has not issued an official statement about the reported deaths or injuries.
Meanwhile, Greek officials have initiated talks with Saudi Arabia regarding the incident. As a key regional player, the Kingdom has previously contributed to efforts aimed at stabilizing security in the Red Sea.
The EU, US, and regional navies are closely monitoring the situation. There is growing concern that the Red Sea could again become a flashpoint, not only for shipping risks but for broader regional tensions.
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