Houthi Rebels Attack in Red Sea: Fatal Ship Incidents

Dubai, Jul 8 (AP) – In a concerning escalation, Yemen's Houthi rebels attacked a Liberian-flagged cargo ship in the Red Sea, resulting in the deaths of three mariners and injuries to two others, as reported by a European Union naval force on Tuesday. The alarming incident occurred aboard the Greek-owned vessel, Eternity C, subsequent to the Houthis claiming a successful assault on another ship in the vital maritime passageway on Monday. This latest wave of violence marks the first Houthi-initiated assaults on maritime trade routes since November 2024, potentially heralding a renewed threat to the waterway, which had been experiencing an uptick in shipping traffic until now.

The attack unfolded as the bulk carrier was navigating northwards towards the Suez Canal, coming under assault from both bomb-laden drones and armed men in small boats on Monday night. Security personnel aboard the vessel responded by returning fire. Both the European Union Operation Aspides and the private security firm Ambrey corroborated these details.

While the Houthis have not formally claimed responsibility for the attack, Yemen’s exiled government and the European Union naval force have assigned blame to the rebels. The EU force provided further information on the casualties, revealing one wounded crewmember's leg was amputated due to the attack. The crew remains stranded on the drifting vessel within the Red Sea waters.

In a separate but related incident, the Houthis attacked another Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier, Magic Seas, on Sunday using an arsenal including drones, missiles, rocket-propelled grenades, and small arms. This onslaught forced the crew of 22 to evacuate the ship, which the rebels later claimed had sunk in the Red Sea.

The dual assaults, which coincide with Israeli airstrikes targeting the rebels, have fueled apprehensions of the Houthis launching a renewed campaign against commercial shipping. Such developments could potentially drag US and Western military forces back into the fray, given President Donald Trump’s administration's previous airstrike campaigns against the rebels. These attacks emerge amidst a tense Middle Eastern backdrop, with potential ceasefire discussions in the Israel-Hamas conflict and Iran weighing decisions about resuming negotiations on its nuclear program. The situation follows a series of recent American airstrikes targeting Iran's sensitive atomic sites during heightened Israel-Iran tensions in June.

The Houthi leadership has contended that these missile and drone attacks on commercial and military vessels form part of their strategy to counter Israel’s military operations against Hamas in Gaza. From November 2023 to January 2025, the Houthis targeted over 100 merchant ships using similar tactics, leading to the sinking of two vessels and the deaths of four sailors. During this period, their campaign significantly curtailed trade through the critical Red Sea corridor, through which an estimated USD 1 trillion in goods typically pass annually. While shipping activity had seen a tentative increase in recent weeks, the recent resurgence in attacks threatens to reverse those gains.

Having paused their maritime assaults following a substantial US military response in mid-March, the Houthis resumed their aggressive tactics on vessels over the past weekend, despite continuing sporadic missile attacks on Israel. The evolving situation remains under close scrutiny, as stakeholders worldwide weigh the implications of a renewed Houthi campaign across the strategically vital Red Sea shipping lanes.

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