In brief
The Yemeni Houthi militia attacked a Liberian-flagged cargo ship, resulting in fatalities among the crew and the taking of hostages. U.S. officials call for their immediate release while previous attacks raise concerns about the safety of maritime routes in the region.
Yemen’s Houthi militia recently took hostage several crew members from a Liberian-flagged cargo ship, a move that signifies a worrying escalation in ongoing conflicts disrupting international shipping lanes. The incident was confirmed by the U.S. Mission to Yemen on social media, which urged for the immediate freedom and safe return of the kidnapped sailors.On Monday, Houthis launched an assault on the vessel named Eternity C while it was navigating through the Red Sea, tragically resulting in the deaths of at least two crew members, per statements from Liberian officials during a United Nations conference. Houthi military spokesman Yahya al-Sarea claimed responsibility, stating that the ship was struck using cruise and ballistic missiles due to its alleged destination towards an Israeli port—an assertion that remains unverified. Following the attack, al-Sarea declared that the militia took it upon themselves to rescue some crew members, offering both medical attention and transport to an undisclosed safe location.Details regarding the exact number of crew members seized or the timeline for their release have not been disclosed. A stark reminder of previous hostilities came from 2023, when the Houthis captured the ship Galaxy Leader and held its crew captive for over a year.While avoiding direct comments on the latest attack, Houthi political official Mohammed al-Bukhaiti expressed a supposed concern for the safety of sailors, despite the group's history of aggressive maritime actions.
