Five Crew Rescued After Red Sea Ship Attack

An international rescue operation is underway following a deadly assault on a Liberian-flagged cargo ship, the Eternity C, by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. The attack, which took place earlier this week, claimed the lives of at least three crew members and left two others injured, reigniting concerns over maritime safety in the region.

Renewed Violence in Strategic Waters

The Eternity C, a Greek-owned bulk carrier, was traveling north toward the Suez Canal on Monday night when it came under coordinated fire. Armed attackers aboard small boats and drones equipped with explosives targeted the vessel, according to reports from the European Union’s naval mission Operation Aspides and maritime security firm Ambrey.

Security personnel on board attempted to defend the ship by returning fire. Despite these efforts, the vessel sustained major structural damage and lost its ability to navigate, becoming adrift in the Red Sea. The full extent of the damage remains unconfirmed.

This attack follows the Houthis’ strike on the Magic Seas just days earlier, which resulted in that vessel’s sinking. Both attacks mark a disturbing return to aggressive action by the Iran-aligned Houthis after a brief lull in maritime hostilities since late 2024. These latest incidents have occurred at a time when commercial shipping traffic through the Red Sea had begun to recover.

Humanitarian and Strategic Fallout

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center, part of the British Royal Navy’s regional maritime monitoring, confirmed that rescue efforts began overnight and have so far saved five crew members from the Eternity C. However, other members remain stranded on the stricken vessel, which is now drifting and unable to move under its own power.

According to the EU naval force, one of the injured crew suffered a severe injury resulting in the loss of a leg. Details about the nationalities of the victims or the size of the crew have not yet been released.

Though the Houthis have not formally claimed responsibility for the Eternity C attack — a delay that’s not unusual for the group — Yemen’s internationally recognized government, the EU force, and the U.S. State Department have each squarely blamed the rebels.

U.S. Response and Broader Implications

Speaking on the matter, U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce condemned the assault and emphasized the continuing risk posed by the Houthis to global maritime operations. “These attacks demonstrate the ongoing threat that Iran-backed Houthi rebels pose to freedom of navigation and to regional economic and maritime security,” she said. “The United States has been clear: We will continue to take necessary action to protect freedom of navigation and commercial shipping from Houthi terrorist attacks.”

These events underscore growing instability in a region vital to global trade. The Red Sea is a key artery for commercial shipping, connecting Europe to Asia via the Suez Canal. Renewed violence along this route threatens to disrupt supply chains and escalate geopolitical tensions, particularly as the Houthis intensify their campaign amid the broader backdrop of Iran’s influence in the region.