An ongoing attack on a cargo vessel in the Red Sea has killed two people, an official and maritime monitor said Tuesday, after Yemen鈥檚 Huthi rebels resumed their campaign against shipping in the vital waterway.
The Eternity, a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier, has been badly damaged and under 鈥榗ontinuous attack鈥� since Monday in waters off Yemen, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said.
鈥楾he vessel has sustained significant damage and has lost all propulsion,鈥� UKMTO, which is run by the British navy, said in a statement. 鈥楾he vessel is surrounded by small craft and is under continuous attack.鈥�
A Liberian representative at the London-based International Maritime Organization said two seafarers had been killed. All but one of the 22 crew are Filipino, according to Philippines officials.
The US embassy in Yemen in a statement on X accused the Huthis of staging the attack on Eternity, describing it as 鈥榯he most violent鈥� yet and accusing the group of 鈥榰ndermining freedom of navigation in the Red Sea鈥欌�攖he main goal of a May truce between Washington and the group.
While the Iran-backed Huthis did not claim responsibility, it comes after the group struck another cargo ship, the Magic Seas, on Sunday鈥攖heir first such action this year.
The two incidents in quick succession raised fears of a return to regular Huthi attacks on a vital shipping route that previously carried about 12 percent of global trade.
They also come as the United States pushes for fresh nuclear talks with Iran, the Huthis鈥� powerful backer, following the 12-day war with Israel.
Mohammed Albasha, of the US-based Basha Report Risk Advisory, said the rebels may be trying to exert pressure on the United States and Israel.
鈥楾he [Magic Seas] attack could be intended as a subtle message to both Washington and Tel Aviv that Iran鈥檚 allied groups remain capable and active,鈥� he said.
鈥楾he message is clear. The Huthis still have the ability to disrupt and are carefully choosing when to act,鈥� 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 had 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 fastest 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.
The rebels had previously told AFP they would continue targeting 鈥業sraeli ships鈥� despite the US truce, which was meant to guarantee freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.
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 鈥榠s bigger than Gaza鈥� for the rebels.
鈥楾hese strikes boost their regional standing, fuel their narrative and advance their goal of becoming the new leader of the 鈥楢xis of Resistance鈥�, all while reinforcing Iran鈥檚 broader regional agenda,鈥� she posted on X.
