In a tragic escalation of maritime hostilities in the Red Sea, four crew members of the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Eternity C are presumed dead following an attack by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The assault, which took place earlier this week near the port city of Hodeida, lasted two days and resulted in the vessel sinking. The European Union’s naval task force, Operation Aspides, confirmed the casualties on Friday, citing a private company currently conducting search and rescue operations in the area.
According to Aspides, 15 crew members remain missing, with the four presumed dead among them. A total of 25 people were on board when the attack occurred.
This incident marks the second such strike on commercial shipping in the region within 48 hours—ending a months-long lull in Houthi maritime assaults. The rebels have resumed their campaign in what they claim is a show of solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
While the Houthis have claimed they rescued some crew members and relocated them to a “safe place,” the U.S. Embassy in Yemen has accused the group of kidnapping the survivors.
The Houthis had briefly halted these attacks following a temporary Gaza ceasefire in January but have now reignited their offensive, reigniting tensions in one of the world’s most vital shipping lanes.
Search operations for the missing crew continue, as international concern grows over the resurgence of violence threatening global maritime trade in the Red Sea.
