Rescuers saved four more crew members on Thursday from the Greek cargo ship that was attacked by Houthi rebels off the coast of Yemen on Monday. It appears that the attackers are also holding a number of crew members hostage.
The ship Eternity C sank in the Red Sea on Wednesday morning after being attacked with rockets on Monday and Tuesday. The Houthis, who often attack ships, claimed responsibility for the action.
The evacuation of crew members is proving difficult. There are reports that lifeboats have been destroyed by explosives and drones. On Wednesday, six crew members were rescued. Four more followed on Thursday.
Other crew members have fallen into the hands of the rebels. The Houthis claim to have “rescued” them. But according to US authorities, it is a hostage situation. News agency Reuters reports that possibly six of the 25 crew members have been kidnapped.
The Houthis recently also attacked the cargo ship Magic Seas. Then the entire crew could be rescued before the ship sank. Two people were injured.
Since the outbreak of the Israeli-Palestinian war in October 2023, the rebels have been attacking ships in the Red Sea more often. They say they do this in solidarity with the Palestinians. Like Hamas, they are an Iranian ally in the fight against Israel.