Deadly Houthi Attacks Resume in Red Sea, Mariners Killed
Deadly Houthi Attacks Resume in Red Sea, Mariners Killed
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have launched a renewed wave of attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, resulting in the deaths of three mariners and injuries to two others. This marks a significant escalation and the first such assaults since November 2024, raising fears of renewed disruption to the vital global trade route.
The European Union naval force confirmed that the Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned cargo ship Eternity C was attacked on Monday night. The vessel, heading towards the Suez Canal, came under fire from small boats and bomb-carrying drones. Despite security guards returning fire, three crew members were killed and two wounded, with one losing a leg. The ship is currently adrift in the Red Sea, its crew stranded.
This deadly incident follows another Houthi assault on Sunday against the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Magic Seas. That attack, involving drones, missiles, and small arms, forced its 22-member crew to abandon the vessel, which the rebels later claimed sank with its cargo of fertilizer and steel billets.
While the Houthis have not explicitly claimed the Eternity C attack, both Yemen’s exiled government, the EU force, and the U.S. Embassy in Yemen have attributed it to the rebels. The U.S. Embassy condemned the “blatant disregard for human life” and “intentional murder of innocent mariners,” stating it would only further isolate the Houthis.
These twin attacks come after a period of relative calm following a U.S. assault on the rebels in mid-March. They signal a potential resurgence of the Houthi campaign, which previously targeted over 100 merchant vessels between November 2023 and January 2025, drastically impacting Red Sea trade. The renewed aggression threatens regional peace, global commerce, and potentially could draw in more international military responses, adding further instability to the Middle East amidst ongoing conflicts.
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