Houthis attack ship in Red Sea, four dead

Manila

A Greek-owned cargo ship named 'Eternity C' was sunk in the Red Sea after being attacked by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Monday. Four crew members were killed, and six have been rescued so far. Search operations are ongoing to find the remaining missing crew members.

The ship, sailing under a Liberian flag, had 22 crew members on board — 21 Filipinos and one Russian. The attack involved sea drones, missiles, and rocket-propelled grenades launched by the Iran-backed Houthis, who claimed it was an act of support for Palestinians in Gaza.

The European Union’s naval mission, Operation Aspides, confirmed that six people were saved from the sea. The Philippine government said five Filipino sailors have been rescued, while others are still missing. The ship’s owner reported that the 'Eternity C' had completely sunk.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center warned ships to be cautious in the area. The US Mission in Yemen accused the Houthis of kidnapping some surviving crew members and demanded their immediate release.

Before this incident, Houthis attacked another Greek-owned vessel, 'Magic Seas', forcing its crew to abandon it. The Houthis have targeted ships in the Red Sea since the Israel-Hamas war escalated, saying they act in solidarity with Palestinians and will continue attacks until Israel stops its war on Gaza.

The Red Sea is a vital global trade route, handling about $1 trillion in annual trade. Recent attacks have created fear among shipping companies, affecting trade flow through the region. Efforts to rescue remaining crew members from 'Eternity C' are still ongoing.