Three Dead, Ten Rescued After Houthi Attack Sinks Cargo Ship in the Red Sea
- Victor Nwoko
- Jul 10
- 3 min read
At least three crew members are confirmed dead and ten others rescued after a cargo ship operated by a Greek company and flagged under Liberia sank in the Red Sea following a brazen attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, according to a European naval mission.
The vessel, named Eternity C, was struck by rocket-propelled grenades launched from small boats on Monday, causing it to lose propulsion and sustain critical structural damage. The attack continued into Tuesday, with search and rescue operations launching overnight. The ship was reportedly carrying 25 crew members at the time of the incident.
According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the vessel was targeted near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Iran-backed Houthi forces later claimed responsibility, stating that the ship was heading to Israel, which they consider a valid target in their ongoing campaign in support of Palestinians in Gaza. The rebels also confirmed they had taken an unspecified number of crew to a “safe location.”
The U.S. Embassy in Yemen condemned the action, stating the Houthis had “kidnapped many surviving crew members,” and demanded their immediate release.
Among the crew were 21 Filipino nationals and one Russian seafarer who reportedly lost a leg during the attack. Four additional crew members — three Filipinos and one Greek — were rescued late Wednesday night, according to the EU’s Operation Aspides.
Greek maritime security firm Diaplous shared video footage showing several seafarers being pulled from the water after reportedly spending more than 24 hours adrift. The company vowed to continue search efforts “until the last light.”
Security firms later reported that the death toll had risen to four, though EU sources confirmed three fatalities as of Thursday.
The Eternity C is the second Liberian-flagged, Greek-operated cargo vessel sunk by the Houthis within a week. On Sunday, the rebels targeted the Magic Seas, accusing its operators of violating an alleged entry ban to Israeli ports. While the Magic Seas was also struck by drones and missiles, all 22 crew members were safely rescued by a passing merchant ship.
The Houthis have intensified maritime attacks in the region since November 2023, targeting over 70 vessels using drones, missiles, and small boats in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. At least seven crew members have died in these operations. Four ships have been sunk, and one seized to date.
The Houthis claim their attacks are aimed at ships linked to Israel, the U.S., and the UK — countries that have conducted retaliatory airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. The U.S. State Department condemned the attacks on Eternity C and Magic Seas, calling them a “serious threat” to freedom of navigation and regional maritime security.
In a related development, Israel’s military reported intercepting a missile launched from Yemen on Thursday, though no further details were provided.
Despite a ceasefire deal reached in May between the U.S. and the Houthis following a seven-week escalation, Houthi leadership has stated that the agreement does not extend to ending operations against Israeli-linked targets.
International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez condemned the renewed violence, emphasizing the legal and humanitarian violations these attacks represent.
“After several months of calm, the resumption of deplorable attacks in the Red Sea constitutes a renewed violation of international law and freedom of navigation,” Dominguez said. “Innocent seafarers and local populations are the main victims of these attacks and the pollution they cause.”
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