DUBAI – A damaged cargo ship was under “continuous attack” in the Red Sea on Tuesday, a maritime monitor said, after Yemen’s Huthi rebels ended a lull in their campaign against shipping through the vital waterway.
The Eternity, a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier, first came under attack on Monday, shortly after the Iran-backed Huthis claimed responsibility for an earlier assault on another cargo ship, the Magic Seas.
The two incidents in quick succession raised fears of a return to regular Huthi attacks on a route that previously carried about 12% of global trade.
The Huthis have not claimed responsibility for the ongoing attack, which has left the Eternity without engine power off the rebel-held city of Hodeida.
“The (Eternity) has sustained significant damage and has lost all propulsion,” the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which is run by the British navy, said in a statement.
“The vessel is surrounded by small craft and is under continuous attack.”
Two crew members have been injured and two others are missing, according to UK-based security firm Ambrey. All but one of the 22 crew are Filipino, according to Philippines officials.
The latest incidents come after Iran, the Huthis’ powerful backer, said it was open to restarting nuclear talks with the United States following its 12-day war with Israel.
Mohammed Albasha, of the US-based Basha Report Risk Advisory, said the rebels may by trying to exert pressure on the United States and Israel.
“The (Magic Seas) attack could be intended as a subtle message to both Washington and Tel Aviv that Iran’s allied groups remain capable and active,” he said.
“The message is clear. The Huthis still have the ability to disrupt and are carefully choosing when to act,” he added.
On Monday, the Huthis said they used unmanned boats, missiles and drones against the Magic Seas, their first attack on a cargo vessel this year.
All 22 people aboard the Greek-owned carrier were rescued on Monday. The Huthis said the vessel has sunk. The rebels, who have controlled large swathes of Yemen for more than a decade, began targeting Israel and ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden after the Gaza war broke out in October 2023. The attacks have forced many freight companies to detour around southern Africa to avoid the Red Sea, normally the prime route between Asia and Europe.
The Huthis, who say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians, paused their anti-ship campaign in January during a ceasefire in Gaza.
They later came under weeks of heavy US bombardment aimed at preventing a resumption of their attacks, before striking a ceasefire with Washington in May.
Israel, stung by regular Huthi missile attacks, has carried out several strikes on Yemen, including a wave of air raids on Sunday.
Nadwa Dawsari, of the Middle East Institute think tank, said that although the Huthis say they are fighting for the Palestinians, the Red Sea campaign “is bigger than Gaza” for the rebels.
“These strikes boost their regional standing, fuel their narrative and advance their goal of becoming the new leader of the ‘Axis of Resistance’, all while reinforcing Iran’s broader regional agenda,” she posted on X.
– Nampa/AFP