Drone Attack Wounds Crew, Leaves Others Missing Off Yemen

Heightened tensions in Red Sea shipping lanes follow Houthi claim of sinking another vessel.

A drone attack off the coast of Yemen has wounded two crew members and left two missing from a Greek-managed vessel, just hours after Houthi militants claimed responsibility for an assault on a separate bulk carrier in the Red Sea.

Details of the Attack

The assault occurred roughly 50 nautical miles southwest of Hodeidah port. According to officials from the European Union’s Operation Aspides, tasked with safeguarding Red Sea shipping, this marks the second Houthi attack on merchant vessels in this crucial shipping corridor since November 2024.

The manager of the Liberia-flagged bulk carrier Eternity C, Cosmoship Management, reported to Reuters that the vessel, carrying 22 crew members including 21 Filipinos and one Russian, was targeted with sea drones and skiffs. Three armed security guards were reportedly on board.

The company confirmed that the ship’s bridge sustained damage, impacting telecommunications. The vessel is currently adrift, according to an Aspides official, following an attack involving sea drones, four speedboats, and rocket-propelled grenades. The ship did not request protection from the naval force, the official stated.

Houthi Claims and Previous Attacks

No immediate claim of responsibility has been made for the drone attack. However, the Houthis claimed responsibility for an attack on the Greek-operated MV Magic Seas bulk carrier off southwest Yemen on Sunday, involving gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades.

The 19 crew members of the Magic Seas were forced to abandon the vessel due to flooding and were later rescued by a passing ship, arriving safely in Djibouti. The Houthis claimed to have sunk the vessel, but **Michael Bodouroglou**, a representative of Stem Shipping, stated that there was no independent confirmation of this.

Crew members reported fires, flooding, and a loss of electricity onboard the Magic Seas. Aspides had previously warned of a possible explosion near the ship.

Escalating Risks and Reactions

Since the start of the conflict in Gaza in October 2023, Houthi militants have increased attacks on Israel-linked vessels in the Red Sea, claiming solidarity with Palestinians. In response, Israel carried out strikes on Houthi targets on Monday, their first in nearly a month. Despite a US-Houthi ceasefire deal in May, the agreement did not include Israel.

Maritime security firm Diaplous emphasized the growing operational risks to commercial vessels that have previously docked at Israeli ports. According to analysis by Vanguard Tech, the fleet of Allseas Marine, another commercial manager for Magic Seas, had called at Israeli ports over the past year.

“These factors put the Magic Seas at an extreme risk of being targeted,” said **Ellie Shafik**, head of intelligence with Vanguard Tech.

In fact, global maritime trade volumes have fallen by 1.3% in the last year, largely driven by security concerns in the Red Sea (UNCTAD 2024).

“No one at sea should ever face such violence,” stated **John Xylas**, chair of Intercargo, the dry bulk shipping association.

“Innocent people are simply doing their jobs, keeping global trade moving.”