In a shocking escalation of maritime violence, Yemen’s Houthi rebels have launched a devastating attack on a cargo ship in the Red Sea, resulting in the deaths of four crew members and the rescue of six others. The assault on the Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned vessel, Eternity Sea, occurred on Tuesday, marking one of the most severe strikes in the region to date. Houthi forces targeted the ship with shore-fired missiles and an unmanned boat, claiming it was en route to the Israeli port of Aat.

The Houthis have made it clear that this attack is part of a broader campaign to disrupt Israeli maritime navigation, stating, “We will target any vessels linked to Israel.” The group’s actions are framed as solidarity with Palestinians amid ongoing conflict in Gaza, intensifying fears of a renewed wave of assaults on shipping in the Red Sea. This incident follows the sinking of another vessel just a week prior, signaling a troubling trend in maritime security.

Of the ship’s 25 crew members, the majority were Filipino nationals. Survivors were rescued by a European Union naval mission, while the Houthis claimed to have also retrieved several crew members, transporting them to safety. The implications of this attack are profound, as it challenges the recent U.S.-Houthi agreement that had curtailed assaults on American vessels in the region.

With tensions escalating and the Houthis vowing to continue targeting Israeli-linked shipping, the question looms: are we witnessing the dawn of a new campaign against maritime commerce in the Red Sea? The international community watches closely as the potential for further violence grows, raising alarms about the safety of shipping lanes critical to global trade. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.