Drone Attack Off Yemen Wounds Crew Members, Highlights Maritime Risks

On Monday, a drone attack perpetrated by Houthi militants targeted a Greek-managed vessel off the coast of Yemen, resulting in injuries to two crew members and leaving two others unaccounted for. This incident occurred 50 nautical miles southwest of Hodeidah, marking the second attack on merchant vessels by the Houthis in the Red Sea since November 2024, according to an official from the European Union’s Operation Aspides, which aims to protect shipping in the area.

The vessel involved, the Eternity C, operated under a Liberian flag and carried a crew of 22, predominantly Filipinos, with one Russian on board. According to Cosmoship Management, the company overseeing the ship, it was attacked by sea drones and armed skiffs, resulting in serious injuries to two crew members. The attack also impacted the ship's telecommunications and left it adrift, reportedly after at least four rocket-propelled grenades were fired during the assault. Notably, the ship had not requested any naval escort or protection prior to the attack.

Earlier in the same weekend, Houthi militants claimed responsibility for an attack on another Greek-operated vessel, the MV Magic Seas, off the southwestern coast of Yemen. This assault involved gunfire, rocket-propelled grenades, and missiles, compelling the ship’s 19 crew members to abandon it as it began taking on water. Although the Houthis declared that they had sunk the vessel, a commercial manager from Stem Shipping indicated that there was no independent confirmation of this claim.

Reports from the crew indicated that they faced multiple incidents of flooding in crucial areas such as the engine room and cargo holds, leading to a loss of power aboard the vessel. A prior warning had been issued by Aspides regarding the potential risk of explosions in proximity to the ship.

The backdrop to these attacks includes the ongoing conflict stemming from Israel's military actions against Hamas since October 2023, which has led the Houthis to target vessels in the Red Sea in what they describe as solidarity with the Palestinians. In a response to these attacks, Israel has engaged Houthi targets, launching airstrikes for the first time in nearly a month.

The Magic Seas, which was transporting iron and fertilizers from China to Turkey, was considered a low-risk vessel, yet the close ties of its commercial managers to Israeli ports raised its threat level. Maritime security analysts have noted that an operational risk has escalated for vessels operating in the region, especially since some shipping companies have connections to Israeli ports. The chairman of the shipping association Intercargo commented on the plight of the innocent crew members caught in such violence, emphasizing the fundamental right to safety at sea for those engaged in global trade.