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London, 9 July 2025 – Two seafarers have been killed in a violent attack on a Liberian-flagged cargo ship, Eternity C, in the Red Sea near Yemen, according to Liberian authorities. The assault, which occurred approximately 51 nautical miles west of the Houthi-controlled port of Hudaydah, left the vessel severely damaged and adrift, with its 22-strong crew, comprising 21 Filipinos and one Russian, under continuous threat.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that the Eternity C was struck by rocket-propelled grenades fired from small boats, causing the ship to lose all propulsion and sustain significant damage. Maritime security sources confirmed to Reuters that the vessel is now listing and surrounded by small craft, with the attack described as ongoing. A Liberian representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) condemned the attack, stating that the Eternity C was "attacked horribly," resulting in the deaths of two crew members. These are the first fatalities in Red Sea shipping incidents since June 2024, bringing the total number of crew members killed in the region since November 2023 to six. Although no group has officially claimed responsibility, the US embassy in Yemen accused Yemen’s Houthi movement of orchestrating the attack, labelling it the group’s “most violent attack to date” on a commercial vessel. The embassy statement accused the Iran-backed Houthis of showing “blatant disregard for human life” and undermining freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, in defiance of UN Security Council demands. The Houthis, who have controlled much of north-western Yemen since 2014, have been targeting merchant vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November 2023, claiming their actions support Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. The group has sunk two ships and seized a third, often claiming—though frequently inaccurately—that their targets are linked to Israel, the US, or the UK. The attack on the Eternity C follows a Houthi-claimed assault on another Liberian-flagged ship, Magic Seas, on Monday, which forced its crew to abandon the vessel. The UKMTO confirmed that the Magic Seas crew was safely rescued by a passing merchant vessel. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez condemned the resurgence of attacks, describing them as a “renewed violation of international law and freedom of navigation.” He highlighted the impact on innocent seafarers and local populations, urging constructive dialogue as the only path to resolution. The Houthis’ campaign in the Red Sea has persisted despite a ceasefire agreement with the US in May, following intensified American strikes on Yemen in response to earlier attacks. The group clarified that the ceasefire did not extend to halting attacks on Israel, which has conducted retaliatory strikes on Houthi-held areas, including the port city of Hudaydah and Sanaa’s main airport. The ongoing violence has raised concerns about regional stability and the safety of international shipping routes, with calls for an end to the attacks that threaten both human lives and the marine environment.
