Search Operations Underway for Crew Following Houthi Attack in the Red Sea

Ten crew members have been rescued while the death toll rises following the Houthi's attack on the Eternity C in the Red Sea. With ongoing search operations and rising tensions in the region, maritime security is under severe concern.

A frantic search for survivors is underway after the cargo ship Eternity C was attacked and sunk by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, following similar hostilities earlier in the week with another vessel. The ship, flagged from Liberia and operated by Greek nationals, had 25 crew members aboard when it fell victim to rocket-powered grenade fire from Houthi small boats on Monday, as confirmed by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

Amid the attack, which lasted into Tuesday, search and rescue operations commenced overnight, managed by a naval mission from the EU known as Operation Aspides. The Houthis claimed their assault on the Eternity C was justified, alleging that the cargo ship was heading to Israel and asserting they'd taken an unspecified number of crew members to a "safe location." The U.S. Embassy in Yemen has reported the capture of several surviving crew members and is demanding their immediate release.

Authorities in the Philippines have identified 21 of the crew as Filipino nationals, with another crew member, a Russian citizen, reported to be gravely injured, having lost a leg during the attack. The rescue operations have thus far brought ten individuals to safety, including three Filipinos and one Greek national, with maritime security firm Diaplous stating that among the rescued were five crew members who had remained stranded in the water for over 24 hours.

This incident marks the second maritime loss attributed to the Houthis in just a week. On Sunday, the group had attacked another Liberian-flagged cargo ship, the Magic Seas, claiming that vessel had breached a ban on shipping to Israeli ports. Reports indicate that all 22 crew members aboard the Magic Seas were rescued without fatalities.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have actively targeted around 70 merchant vessels through missile and drone strikes, worsening maritime security in the region. They have claimed responsibility for the sinking of four vessels and the seizure of another, leading to the deaths of at least seven crew members. Their assaults are presented as a stance in support of Palestinians amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, despite numerous inaccuracies in their claims about targeting only specifically linked ships.

In response to escalating assaults, the U.S. State Department condemned the attacks on both the Eternity C and Magic Seas, stressing the consistent threat of Houthi actions to regional maritime safety and freedom of navigation. Concurrently, Israel's military confirmed intercepting a missile launched from Yemen, displaying the heightened tensions in the area.

The International Maritime Organization's Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez called for renewed diplomatic efforts to address the recent surge in attacks, labeling it a blatant violation of international law and a threat to innocent seafarers and local populations. As the situation continues to evolve, global focus remains on securing shipping lanes and protecting maritime interests in a region beleaguered by ongoing conflict.