DUBAI: A damaged cargo ship is under “continuous attack” in the Red Sea, a maritime monitor said on Tuesday, after Yemen’s Huthi rebels ended a months-long lull in their harassment campaign of the vital but volatile 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 (Eternity) has sustained significant damage and has lost all propulsion,“ the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, an offshoot of the British navy, said in a statement.
“The vessel is surrounded by small craft and is under continuous attack.”
The Huthis have not claimed responsibility for the latest attack. On Monday, they said they used unmanned boats, missiles and drones against the Magic Seas, their first attack on a cargo vessel this year.
All but one of the 22 crew stranded aboard the Eternity were from the Philippines, officials in Manila said on Tuesday.
The crew of the Magic Seas, which was also badly damaged, was rescued on Monday.
The Huthis began targeting Israel and ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden after the Gaza war broke out in October 2023, claiming solidarity with Palestinians.
In response, Israel has carried out several strikes on Yemen, including a wave of attacks on Sunday that hit the port city of Hodeida and nearby areas.
In May, the group struck a ceasefire with the United States after weeks of intense American strikes aimed at halting their attacks on the Red Sea trade route. – AFP
