ATHENS — In a troubling escalation of maritime violence, at least two crew members of a Greek-owned ship sustained injuries and two more are currently unaccounted for following an attack in the Red Sea on Monday. This incident has been confirmed by both Greek government officials and representatives from the ship’s ownership.
Details of the attack
The vessel, identified as the Liberian-flagged Eternity C, was reportedly targeted by unmanned sea drones and small boats off the coast of Hodeidah, located approximately 50 nautical miles west of Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, which is under the control of Iran-aligned Houthi rebels.
As of now, no group has stepped forward to claim responsibility for the attack. According to an official from Cosmoship, the Greek company that owns the vessel, “The vessel was en route to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia when it was struck. Its crew includes 22 Filipinos and three Indian armed guards.” Communication with the crew has been compromised, leaving uncertainty about the ongoing situation on board.
Context of the ongoing conflict
This incident marks the second attack in just 24 hours, following a similar assault on another Greek-owned ship, the Liberian-flagged Magic Seas. Houthi militants claimed responsibility for that attack, asserting that they had successfully sunk the vessel, which was targeted with a combination of drones, missiles, and rocket-propelled grenades. The crew of the Magic Seas was forced to abandon ship and were later rescued by a passing vessel, then transferred to Djibouti.
In the wake of these developments, a spokesperson for the Houthi rebels has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the recent attacks. The series of assaults coincide with heightened tensions in the region, particularly following the onset of the conflict in Gaza in October 2023. The Houthis have engaged in actions described as solidarity with the Palestinians, which includes firing at Israel and targeting shipping lanes in the Red Sea, impacting global trade.
In a related military response, the Israeli military reported conducting strikes against Houthi-controlled ports in Yemen early Monday, marking the first such activity in nearly a month.