The attack, one of the deadliest by the Yemeni rebels against the merchant navy, marks an escalation in this essential maritime area for world trade.
Research continues in the Red Sea. While four sailors were rescued Thursday morning, bringing the number of survivors to 10, 12 others are still missing after the bombing of the Eternity C cargo by the Houthist army. In total, 25 people were on board. The ship, beating Liberian pavilion and operated by a Greek company, was targeted by the Houthis on July 8. Three sailors were killed during the attack according to the European aspid operation, which coordinates research.
The American embassy in Yemen accuses the Houthis of having kidnapped some of the missing. “The Houthi terrorists have removed several surviving crew members from the Eternity C. We call for their immediate, unconditional and safe release”can we read in a press release published on X. Wednesday, the rebels supported by Iran said they had “Rescued” an undetermined number of people on the ship and having taken them to a “Sautical place”claiming the right to ” save “ And treat the survivors.
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Less than 24 hours before the attack on the Eternity C, another ship, the Magic Seas, had already been targeted by the Houthis. The boat was also Greek, from Liberian pavilion. The operation implemented drones and missiles, and the ship flowed after the fire of embedded explosives. The 22 crew members, including the security team, were evacuated before the attack, said the spokesperson for the Houthis.
The attacks have been filmed and relayed on the social networks of Houthi spokespersons. The second occurred on the margins of the port of Hodeidah. “We do not please when we told you that entering the ports of occupied Palestine is strictly prohibited as long as the seat is not lifted and that the attack against Gaza does not cease,” Published last night on the social network X Military spokesperson Houthi Yahya Saree, accompanying his text with a photo of the Eternity C.
Dozens of ships attacked
Since the end of 2023, the Houthis have attacked dozens of ships which they consider linked to Israel, then American boats, claiming to act in solidarity with the Palestinians of Gaza. “The Houthis continue to show the world why the United States was right to designate them as a terrorist organization”writes the American embassy in Yemen on X.
Yemeni militia leader Abdel Malik al-Houthi said Thursday afternoon that“No company could be authorized to transport goods related to Israel to the designated maritime areas”. He reaffirmed that the ban imposed by the Houthis on the navigation which they consider to be linked to Israel in the Red Sea, in the Gulf of Aden and in the Arabian Sea would remain in force.
This series of attacks marks an offensive return of the Houthis since the interruption of their strikes in April. In May, despite a truce with the United States supposed to preserve freedom of navigation, the Houthis had already warned that they would continue to target Israeli ships or linked to Israel. According to the spouse of maritime information, managed by a Western naval coalition, “The Magic Seas and the Eternity C were probably attacked due to previous passages in Israeli ports or links between their owners or managers and other ships who attended Israel”.
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The rebels, which control the capital Sanaa and large sides of Yemen, at war since 2014, had interrupted their sea attacks this year after a cease-fire in Gaza concluded in January. He ended two months later.
The attack, one of the deadliest by the Houthis against the merchant navy, therefore marks an escalation in this essential maritime area for world trade. Before 2023, 12% of the world trade passed through the Red Sea according to figures from the International Chamber of the Merchant Navy. Since then, according to Elisabeth Braw, expert in hybrid threats to Atlantic Council, Western ships have “Modified their route” to avoid the Gulf of Aden. “But in recent times, as the attacks had decreased, some Western sea companies had started to take the Route de la Mer Rouge”deplores the specialist.
International concern
Events arouse strong international concern, especially on the part of the United States, the EU and the shipowners. The UN emissary for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, said at a meeting of the Security Council: “We now see with great concern an escalation in the Red Sea with attacks against two merchant ships earlier this week by Ansar Allah (Official name of Houthis, editor’s note)».
For Elisabeth Braw, the main concern is the new operating mode of the armed group. “So far, they had not directly attacked sailors. Some were dead, but not following direct attacks ”she says. In March 2024, three sailors were killed in the attack on the True Confidence merchant ship. But “This time it is different, they assault these ships by surrounding them with, essentially, small boats, then attack from there. While before, these were missiles and drones ”she analyzes.
The UN emissary for Yemen deplores “Civil losses, injured, as well as risk of environmental damage”. “Yemen cannot be drawn even more into a regional crisis which threatens to undermine the already extremely fragile situation in the country. The challenges for Yemen are too important ”he added.
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Johann Wadephul, German Minister for Foreign Affairs, hopes that Iran is influenced by Houthi activists in Yemen so that they stop attacking ships in the Red Sea. “We expect Iran to use his influence on the Houthis to end it”he said this afternoon at a press conference in Vienna alongside his Israeli and Austrian counterparts.
The question is now whether the United States will intensify its attacks on Houthis. They direct a coalition of countries trying to defeat the Houthis and to secure the Red Sea. “The question is whether they will strengthen this campaign”wonders Elisabeth Braw.
“Perhaps the main countries of origin of sailors-India, the Philippines, Indonesia-will join the coalition in the Red Sea, because now it is their citizens who are killed. These are not Western countries, but they have an interest in securing the Red Sea ”she adds. The survivors of the Eternity C attack are indeed Philippins, Indians, and Greeks.
