4 Dead, 15 Missing After Houthis Sink Cargo Ship in Red Sea

At least four crew members have been killed and 15 others remain missing after Yemen’s Houthi rebels attacked and sank a cargo ship in the Red Sea—marking the second such assault in less than a week.

The Liberia-flagged Eternity C was struck Monday afternoon by sea drones and rocket-propelled grenades launched from Houthi speedboats, according to maritime security sources. The lifeboats were destroyed during the assault, leaving the crew stranded at sea.

Six survivors were rescued more than 24 hours later, but a major search effort continues for the remaining 15 crew members. Greece-based maritime risk management firm Diaplous, which participated in the rescue operation, confirmed efforts would continue “until the last light.”

The Iran-backed Houthis have claimed responsibility for the attack and released video footage appearing to show explosions on the Eternity C as it sank. The footage also included an alleged warning from the Yemeni Navy urging the crew to evacuate, though the authenticity of the video remains unverified.

The United States Mission in Yemen accused the Houthis of kidnapping surviving crew members and called for their “immediate and unconditional release.” In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), the mission said:

“After killing their shipmates, sinking their ship, and hampering rescue efforts, the Houthi terrorists have kidnapped many surviving crew members of the Eternity C. The Houthis continue to show the world why the United States was right to label them a terrorist organisation.”

The Eternity C had a 25-person crew, consisting of 21 Filipinos, one Russian, and three armed guards, including a Greek and an Indian national. One of the guards was among those rescued.

After the initial attack, the ship remained adrift until it was struck again Tuesday morning, forcing the remaining crew to abandon it. The vessel sank early Wednesday.

This latest strike comes just days after the Houthis attacked and sank another cargo ship, Magic Seas. All crew members from that vessel were rescued.

The Houthis claim their renewed maritime attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Between November 2023 and December 2024, the group targeted over 100 commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Shipping industry leaders, including the International Chamber of Shipping and BIMCO, issued a joint statement condemning the attack and calling for stronger maritime security.

“These vessels have been attacked with callous disregard for the lives of innocent civilian seafarers,” the statement said. “This tragedy highlights the urgent need for nations to protect vital shipping routes.”

In a separate development on Thursday, the Houthis claimed to have launched a ballistic missile at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport. Israeli authorities said the missile was intercepted and no casualties were reported, though air raid sirens were activated in multiple areas.

Tensions in the region continue to escalate, threatening critical global shipping lanes and drawing widespread condemnation from the international community.