- Houthi rebels attacked two Greek-operated, Liberia-flagged cargo ships, killing three and injuring others.
- The Eternity C remains adrift and damaged after a drone and speedboat assault.
- The Magic Seas crew was safely rescued after a separate strike near Yemen.
A deadly resurgence of Houthi-led attacks in the Red Sea has claimed the lives of three seafarers and left others injured aboard the Eternity C, a Liberian-flagged vessel operated by a Greek company.
This incident came just hours after the Houthis targeted another vessel, the Magic Seas, also Greek-operated and Liberia-flagged. Although the Houthis claimed it had sunk, all crew members were successfully evacuated by a passing merchant vessel and brought to safety in Djibouti.
Shipping in Peril: Houthi Attacks Spark New Maritime Crisis in Red Sea
The attack on the Eternity C marks the deadliest incident at sea in the region since June 2024 and brings the total death toll from Houthi maritime assaults to seven. The EU’s naval mission, Aspides, confirmed the fatalities and noted ongoing hostile activity around the vessel, indicating that the ship remained under threat for hours after the initial attack.
Liberia, whose flag is widely used by global shipping companies, expressed deep concern at a United Nations maritime session, calling for urgent international intervention. The country’s delegation lamented the repeated targeting of its vessels, describing the situation as both tragic and unacceptable in modern maritime operations.
The Red Sea has become a geopolitical flashpoint since November 2023, when the Houthis began targeting commercial vessels as a purported show of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. These attacks have led many shipping companies to reroute vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, causing delays and raising operational costs across global trade networks.
Despite a May ceasefire, the Houthis maintain that they will continue striking vessels with alleged ties to Israel. The return of violence underscores the fragility of the region’s security and the difficulty of ensuring stable navigation through one of the world’s most strategic waterways.
As deadly assaults return to the Red Sea, the international community faces mounting pressure to secure maritime routes and prevent further loss of life. Without immediate coordinated action, global trade may suffer irreversible consequences.
“The sea unites the world—but without safety, it divides us in fear.” — Anonymous maritime proverb
