The attack on the 'Eternity C', resulting in the deaths of two crew members, signifies a resurgence in maritime violence in the Red Sea, coinciding with Houthi threats against vessels linked to Israeli ports. This incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of this crucial trade route.
Increase in Red Sea Attacks Raises Alarms Over Shipping Safety
Increase in Red Sea Attacks Raises Alarms Over Shipping Safety
A recent attack on the Liberian-flagged cargo ship 'Eternity C' off Yemen’s coast illustrates deteriorating security in the Red Sea, challenging the effect of a truce aimed at restoring maritime safety.
In a troubling escalation of maritime violence, two crew members were fatally injured during an attack on a Liberian-registered cargo ship, the 'Eternity C', off the coast of Yemen. The attack, which involved multiple small vessels, occurred just one day after the Houthis launched a similar assault on another ship, leading to growing anxieties over the safety of one of the world's vital trade routes.
Although no group has formally claimed responsibility for the latest incident, it comes on the heels of an attack on Sunday where the Houthis confirmed they had sunk the 'Magic Seas', another Liberian-flagged cargo ship. According to Liberian representatives at a United Nations meeting in London, two additional crew members sustained injuries during the assault on the 'Eternity C'.
The string of naval assaults began following a ceasefire announcement by former President Trump, aimed at reinstating safe navigation within the Red Sea. The attack on the 'Magic Seas' marked the first Houthi aggression against commercial shipping since December and represented a breach of the truce established after intense U.S. bombardments targeting Houthi positions in Yemen.
Yahya al-Sarea, a military spokesperson for the Houthis, claimed the attack on the 'Magic Seas' was initiated due to the vessel's failure to comply with their restrictions on entering ports in what they labeled "occupied Palestine". He asserted that the ship suffered a direct hit during the assault.
As these incidents unfold, they highlight the precarious state of maritime safety in the Red Sea and cast doubt on the effectiveness of ongoing international negotiations aimed at securing safe passage for commercial shipping in the region.
