The Houthi rebel movement in Yemen has officially taken responsibility for the attack on the Greek cargo ship Eternity C, which was completely sunk in the Red Sea after multiple heavy missile strikes and an unmanned naval drone assault.
Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree told Al Masirah TV that the attack was an act of “revenge” against the ship’s owner, who, according to the rebels, had resumed commercial operations with the Israeli-controlled port of Eilat—referred to by the Houthis as “Umm al-Rashrash.”
“The Yemeni naval forces targeted the Eternity C vessel en route to the occupied Palestinian port. The attack involved one unmanned naval vessel and six cruise and ballistic missiles. As a result, the ship was completely sunk,” Saree stated.
He added that some crew members received medical assistance from Houthi forces and were transferred to a secure location, though Reuters reported at least four fatalities. Latest information indicates that six sailors were rescued by the European mission Aspides, while 15 remain missing since the evening of July 9. Survivors reportedly spent over 24 hours adrift at sea.
The incident took place 51 nautical miles west of the port city of Hodeidah, an area notorious for Houthi attacks on vessels connected to Israel or its allies.
Saree warned that all ships operating to or from Israeli ports would be legitimate targets regardless of their location.
“We again warn companies and countries about the consequences of cooperating with the Zionist entity,” he said.
The Houthi attacks are part of a broader campaign by the Iranian-backed rebels aimed at disrupting trade routes to Israel via the Red Sea, one of the world’s most critical maritime corridors. The international community has expressed concern over the escalating threat to civilian shipping in this strategic area.
