A maritime monitor reports that five members of the crew have been saved from a Liberian-flagged cargo ship in the Red Sea following a alleged Houthi attack by Yemeni rebels. At least three sailors from the 22-member crew have been killed and two have been injured so far in the attack.
Following Monday’s attack on the Greek-owned Eternity C, “search and rescue operations commenced overnight,” according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO), which is run by the British military.
The ship suffered “significant damage” and “lost all propulsion,” according to UKMTO on Tuesday. The severely damaged vessel had sunk off Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah, which is under the Houthis’ control, according to security firm Ambrey from the UK.
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The Houthis have not claimed responsibility for the attack, accusing them of attacking Israeli-linked ships as part of a solidarity campaign with Palestinians being repeatedly attacked by Israeli forces.
However, it occurred one day after they claimed responsibility for sinking another cargo ship in the Red Sea as a result of an attack. The entire crew was saved.
The Red Sea shipping has been attacked for the first time since late 2024, which could indicate the start of a new armed campaign threatening the waterway, which has seen increased traffic recently.
The Houthis pledged to “prevent Israeli navigation in the Red and Arabian Seas… until the aggression against Gaza stops and the blockade is lifted” after declaring that ships owned by businesses with ties to Israel were a “legitimate target.”
The rebels were held responsible for the attack on Eternity C by Yemen’s exiled government, the European Union’s Operation Aspides military force, and the US State Department.
According to State Department spokesman Tammy Bruce, “These attacks demonstrate the ongoing threat that Iran-backed Houthi rebels pose to regional economic and maritime security.”
She continued, “The United States has stated that we will continue to take necessary steps to protect commercial shipping and freedom of navigation from terrorist attacks.”
Security guards on board fired their weapons, according to Operation Aspides and Ambrey, which The Associated Press news agency cited on Monday night when the bulk carrier was heading north toward the Suez Canal when it was attacked by men in small boats and by bomb-carrying drones heading its way.
According to Operation Aspides, three people were killed and at least two others were hurt, including a “Russian electrician who lost a leg,” according to a statement released on Tuesday.
There were 22 crew members on the Eternity C, including one Filipino, according to Philippine authorities.
Cosmoship Management, the Eternity C’s operator, has not made any announcements regarding casualties or injuries.
Israel’s military and the Houthis engaged in separate strikes on Sunday, with Israel claiming to have bombed three ports and a power plant in Yemen. This prompted the Iran-allied group to launch additional missiles at Israeli territory.
Israel claimed to have struck the Ras Kathib power plant, Ras Isa, and Hodeidah ports on the coast of the Red Sea.
Source: Aljazeera
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