Houthis Sink Greek-Owned Cargo Ship ‘Eternity C’ in Red Sea Attack; 4 Dead, 15 Missing, Search Continues

Manila [Philippines]: At least four crew members were killed, and 15 others are missing after the Greek-owned, Liberian-flagged cargo ship ‘Eternity C’ sank in the Red Sea following a drone and speedboat attack allegedly carried out by Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

According to the European Union’s Aspides naval mission, six crew members have been rescued so far from the waters off the coast of Yemen, where the incident occurred on Monday. The vessel was carrying 22 crew members, including 21 Filipinos and one Russian, when it was struck by drones and rocket-propelled grenades, as confirmed by the Philippine News Agency.

Houthis Claim Responsibility

The Houthis, who released drone footage showing explosions on the vessel before it sank, claimed the attack was conducted using an unmanned boat and missiles “in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza,” according to Al Jazeera.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported the vessel sank at coordinates 1442N 04226E, around 51 nautical miles west of Hudaydah, Yemen. They advised all vessels in the region to transit with caution and report suspicious activity.

Search and Rescue Operations Ongoing

Philippines Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac confirmed that five Filipino crew members were among those rescued. The search continues for the remaining missing crew.

“The shipowner has confirmed that the ‘Eternity C’ sank, and at the same time, five crew members were rescued. They were in the water, and the rescue team found them,” Cacdac stated.

Meanwhile, the US Mission in Yemen accused the Houthis of kidnapping several surviving crew members and called for their immediate and unconditional release.

Series of Red Sea Attacks

The attack on ‘Eternity C’ follows another assault on ‘Magic Seas’, also Greek-owned and Liberian-flagged, which the Houthis claimed to have sunk in the Red Sea a day earlier. The Houthis have been targeting commercial vessels in the Red Sea in retaliation for the Israel-Hamas conflict, vowing to continue until Israel ends its military operations in Gaza.

After the Israel-Hamas ceasefire collapsed in March 2025, the Trump administration ramped up its military campaign against the Houthis but later signed an agreement in May under which the Houthis pledged not to target American ships in exchange for a US commitment not to attack them.

Impact on Global Shipping

The Red Sea, a critical maritime trade corridor handling over USD 1 trillion annually, has seen shipping activity remain below normal levels due to the ongoing threat from Houthi attacks, despite slight improvements in recent weeks.