ALBAWABA- In a renewed escalation of maritime attacks, Yemen’s Houthi forces targeted a second commercial vessel within 24 hours in the Red Sea, heightening fears of a broader conflict in one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes.
The latest strike hit the Greek-owned bulk carrier Eternity C, en route to Israel’s Haifa port, marking another attempt by the Houthis to enforce what they call a “naval blockade” on Israeli-bound vessels.
Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree confirmed the attack in a televised statement on Wednesday, stating that an unmanned boat, along with six cruise missiles, had struck the Eternity C after multiple warnings were issued to the ship’s operating company.
The statement, released by the Houthi-run Yemeni Armed Forces, accused the vessel of violating a decision banning entry to ports in “occupied Palestine.”
The attack came just a day after a similar assault on another ship, Magic Seas, signaling an intensifying campaign that may disrupt Red Sea trade and potentially reengage Western military forces in the region.
The EU's maritime security mission, Operation Atalanta, reported that Eternity C had 21 Filipino crew members, one Russian, and three security personnel on board. Prior to the incident, the vessel had not requested naval escort.
Following the strike, Houthi-aligned medical teams reportedly evacuated the injured crew, but no details were provided about their number or current location. The ship was approximately 60 miles southwest of Hodeida, a Red Sea port under Houthi control, when it was attacked.
The consecutive maritime strikes, along with a series of Israeli airstrikes targeting Houthi positions earlier Monday, have sparked fears of a new wave of conflict that could see the Red Sea crisis expand further.
The situation echoes past confrontations when U.S. and allied forces were drawn into direct action against the Houthis, particularly during the Trump administration’s retaliatory air campaign.
Since November 2023, the Houthis have declared their military operations in the Red Sea part of a broader regional response to the continued Israeli assaults in Gaza. The group claims its targeting of vessels bound for Israeli ports is a show of solidarity with Palestinians and a tactic to pressure Israel by disrupting maritime commerce.
By imposing what they call a "naval embargo" on ships heading to Israeli ports, the Houthis aim to leverage regional instability to position themselves as defenders of Gaza, drawing on popular anger in the Arab world over the humanitarian crisis there.
