Yemeni Forces Sink Israel-Bound Ship In Red Sea Escalation

(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer) Beirut- In a dramatic escalation of maritime attacks in the Red Sea, Yemen's armed forces announced the successful targeting and sinking of the cargo vessel Eternity C, which they claim was en route to the Israeli port of Eilat, known in Arabic as Umm al-Rashrash. The strike was reportedly carried out in retaliation for Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza, which the Houthi dominated Ansarallah movement describe as genocide.

According to a statement released Thursday by the Yemeni military, the Eternity C was hit by an unmanned surface vehicle and six cruise and ballistic missiles after its crew allegedly ignored repeated warnings from Yemeni naval forces. Footage released by the Ansarallah shows the ship ablaze and taking on water, with the bridge severely damaged and oil leaking into the sea.

Maritime security officials confirmed that four out of 25 crew members were killed in the attack. The remaining sailors reportedly abandoned the ship before it sank early Wednesday morning.

The vessel, flying a Liberian flag and operated by a Greek firm, was accused by Yemen's armed forces of violating a ban on ships linked to Israel. The ban, enforced by the Houthi-controlled government in Sana'a since late 2023, targets vessels associated with Israeli trade or ports. Shipping data confirms that other ships in Eternity C's wider fleet have docked at Israeli ports within the past year.

In a related incident earlier this week, Yemen released video footage of an assault on another Liberian-flagged bulk carrier, Magic Seas, which they claim was also tied to Israeli trade. That vessel was similarly boarded and ultimately scuttled. The crew was rescued without fatalities.

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In a televised address, Ansarralh military spokesman Yahya Saree said the Red Sea operations would continue“until the aggression on Gaza stops and the siege is lifted.” He emphasized that any company or country engaging in maritime activity with Israel would be considered a legitimate target.

The attacks are part of a broader campaign launched by the Iranian-aligned government in Sanaa in November 2023, a month after Israel's war on Gaza began. Since then, Yemeni forces have targeted over 100 ships using drones and missiles. Although a temporary ceasefire brought the maritime campaign to a halt, hostilities resumed soon after Israeli's broke the truce.

In a related development, Yemeni forces claimed responsibility for launching a Zulfiqar ballistic missile at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport early Thursday morning. The Israeli military reported that its air defenses intercepted the missile, though the attack triggered air raid sirens across more than 300 towns and disrupted air traffic briefly.

The renewed hostilities underline the volatile nature of Red Sea shipping routes and reflect the growing regional dimensions of the Gaza conflict. Western powers, including the United States and Britain, have previously responded with airstrikes against Yemen.

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