The Houthi militias in Yemen are again attacking cargo ships in the Red Sea. There were apparently deaths and injuries on board one of the freighters. In May, the Houthis had actually agreed to a ceasefire with the US.
Houthi militias are once again attacking cargo ships in the Red Sea. After initially attacking the freighter"Magic Seas," the "Eternity" was later targeted. According to the AP news agency, citing information from the EU military mission, three sailors were killed and two injured. Both ships fly the Liberian flag and are owned by Greek shipping companies.
The"Magic Seas" was attacked on Sunday with "two unmanned boats, five ballistic and cruise missiles, and three drones," a militia spokesperson said. According to the militia, the freighter has since sunk. The crew was forced to abandon ship.
According to two British firms specializing in maritime security, the"Magic Seas" was attacked near the Yemeni port of Hodeida. The crew was rescued by a passing merchant vessel, according to the UK Maritime Transport Authority (UKMTO).
"Surrounded by small boats and constantly attacked"
The Houthi militia has not yet claimed responsibility for the attack on the "Eternity." The attack began on Monday and is still ongoing, the UKMTO said."The ship is surrounded by small boats and is under constant attack." The freighter suffered severe damage and "lost all propulsion," according to the British agency.
The Iranian-funded Houthis control much of Yemen. The country lies at the southern tip of the Red Sea, from where they also control the Bab al-Mandab Strait. One of the world's most important trade routes runs through the Red Sea.
Attacks on ships since November 2023
In November 2023, shortly after the start of the Gaza War triggered by Hamas's terrorist attack on Israel, the Houthis began attacking merchant vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden with alleged links to Israel. The US and its allies responded by launching attacks on Houthi targets in Yemen starting in early 2024.
In May, the Houthis and the US agreed to a ceasefire brokered by Oman. However, the Houthis declared they would continue attacking Israeli ships. Along with Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Islamist Palestinian organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Houthis belong to the Iranian-led"Axis of Resistance" directed against Israel and the US. Their stated goal is the destruction of Israel.
