At least four seafarers have died and two others sustained serious injuries following a series of attacks by Yemen’s Houthi militants on the Liberia-flagged bulk carrier Eternity C, which ultimately sank in the Red Sea.
The assault, which began on July 7 and stretched into the following day, involved coordinated strikes by four speedboats and two unmanned aerial vehicles. The Eternity C, operated by a Greek shipping company, was carrying a 22-member crew—21 of whom were Filipino nationals, along with one Russian—and a three-person private security team.
According to reports from Reuters and multiple maritime security sources, the death toll rose to four crew members as of July 9. Several others remain unaccounted for, though at least five individuals have been rescued from the water after the vessel began to sink. Eyewitness accounts confirm that some crew were found in lifejackets, clinging to debris during the rescue efforts.
The Eternity C becomes the latest casualty in a wave of maritime attacks that have destabilized shipping routes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since late 2023. The incident also follows another recent assault on the cargo ship Magic Seas, pointing to a disturbing resurgence in attacks after several months of relative calm.
International condemnation swiftly followed. International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, speaking at the IMO Council in London, called for urgent diplomatic intervention.
“The resumption of deplorable attacks in the Red Sea constitutes a renewed violation of international law and freedom of navigation,” Dominguez stated. “Innocent seafarers and local populations are the main victims of these attacks and the pollution they cause.”
Dominguez reaffirmed the IMO’s commitment to engaging all relevant stakeholders and appealed for “constructive dialogue” to de-escalate the ongoing crisis. IMO Council Chair Victor Jiménez and several Member States echoed his call and offered solidarity with those affected.
The United States also issued a strong response. In a statement, the U.S. Department of State condemned the attacks on both MV Magic Seas and MV Eternity C, describing them as “unprovoked” and a clear threat to international trade.
“These attacks demonstrate the ongoing threat that Iran-backed Houthi rebels pose to freedom of navigation and to regional economic and maritime security,” the statement read. “We will continue to take necessary action to protect freedom of navigation and commercial shipping from Houthi terrorist attacks.”
Data from the IMO, corroborated by flag States, indicates that at least 69 attacks on international shipping occurred between November 2023 and October 2024. This week’s incidents are the first recorded since that period, marking a potentially dangerous new phase in the Red Sea conflict.
